The Issue Of Foreign Intervention – US Calls on Assad to “Step Down Now”. Robert Ford, making a difference (By Ehsani)
Posted by Ehsani on Friday, October 7th, 2011
As Syria approaches the seven month anniversary of its conflict, the following is becoming clear:
1- The Syrian military and internal security apparatus is a cohesive group that seems unlikely to disintegrate anytime soon. There is no doubt that some desertions have taken place. But these have been too sporadic to make a noticeable rupture in the army’s control over the Syrian territory.
2- The defining moment in the past seven months came on the eve of Ramadan. Hama was steadily moving away from central control. The sensitivities of moving the army into Hama on that day were not lost to Damascus. In the end, the risk of waiting was deemed too high. Leaving Hama the way it was for the whole month of Ramadan would have made any attempt to retake the city that much harder to accomplish thereafter. No one in the Syrian leadership wanted to have another Benghazi in Syria. This is why the tanks moved into Daraa earlier and Rastan just recently. Damascus will not allow any territory to fall outside of its control.
3- Armed with a strong and cohesive army that has been able to exert full territorial control over the whole country, the opposition must by now be aware that defeating this regime militarily is unlikely to happen without foreign help. Syria is not Tunisia or Egypt. The popular uprising that was going to sweep away the Syrian regime was an attractive option in theory. Members of the Syrian opposition saw it as the way forward. In practice, however, it is yet to yield any discernible result.
4- This leaves foreign help. Presumably, this can mean one of three things:
- Foreign Boots on the ground.
- No Fly-Zone.
- Arming internal groups with the hope toppling the regime militarily.
The latter option is precisely why the Syrian leadership has made sure that no territory falls outside its control. Such an area would simply act as a base and an address for foreign arm shipments and would constitute a Syrian Bhangazi. Any foreign shipments that have come in so far seem to have been sporadic and light enough not to pose any legitimate strategic risk to the country’s armed forces. Indeed, the Syrian army and security forces are so superior in numbers and firepower that it seems almost impossible for this strategy to ultimately work. The opposition is unlikely to defeat the army regardless of how many arms it can unilaterally source from outside.
In an exclusive report entitled – War only option to topple Syrian leader, Colonel Riad al-As’aad seems to call for the international community to provide army rebels with weapons and enforce a no-fly zone. He concludes by saying:
“If they don’t give it to us, we will fight with our nails until the regime is toppled. I tell Bashar al-Assad, the people are stronger than you.”
The fact is that the Colonel realizes that arming the rebels from outside needs both a Syrian address (Rastan or jabal al zawye) AND a No-Fly zone.
But what is a No-Fly zone? The concept seems a little confusing in the sense that the Syrian air force has not exactly been busy fighting the insurgents with chemical weapons (Iraq) or the like. One can think of this concept as the prelude or the poor cousin of the first option which involves sending foreign boots on the ground. The No-Fly zone, should it happen, would presumably involve NATO targeting and degrading Syria’s extensive surface to air anti aircraft missiles.
Saddam survived everything that was thrown at him, including a No-Fly zone, for years till the foreign boots showed up. Once the latter happened, his regime simply crumbled in days. While the initial western success was intoxicating, what came after was enough to convince even the most hawkish elements in Washington that a repeat of that experiment in Syria now would be incomprehensible. The country does not have the financial, political or military stomach for this adventure at the moment.
The newly formed Syrian National Council faces a dilemma when it comes to foreign intervention. Quite simply, the opposition knows that it is nearly impossible to topple this regime without foreign help. Yet, they also know that inviting foreign military intervention into Syria is political suicide. What you get as a result is a muddled policy response and half-pregnant answers.
To be sure, no foreign intervention has been the consistent party line. During the latest interview with Aljazeera, Mr. Ghalyoun called for “international observers to help protect civilians”. While that does not sound like direct foreign military intervention, it surely is a prelude to one. What would happen if a team of international observers (UNIFIL?) were shot at or killed? Would the international community have to send real armed forced to protect the observers next?
The Syrian National Council is likely to keep dancing around this issue and avoid commenting on the subject directly. This is because they are in a catch-22 situation. As this conflict carries forward, the time will come when the SNC will have to face that fork in the road and convincingly describe how it intends to bring the slogan of ”Isqat al Nizam” into reality on the ground.
[end of commentary]
Kurdish opponent of Assad shot dead – Financial Times
Though the exact circumstances surrounding Mr Tammo’s death are unknown, suspicion immediately fell on the regime, and could widen the opposition to Mr Assad’s rule. Protests were said to have broken out in Kurdish areas on Friday night.
“They’re very, very angry,” said Massoud Akko, a Kurdish human rights activist and journalist living in Norway. “He was a very good man, very clever, respected by all Syrian people, not just the Kurdish.”
Mr Tammo was spokesman for one of the Syrian Kurds’ 14 illegal political parties, and was in prison until earlier this year. He was also a member of the recently formed Syrian National Council, the umbrella group of the opposition.
Although there have been anti-regime protests in the Kurdish areas, many expected the community to mobilise more fully than it has so far, given that Syria’s Kurdish minority, which forms nearly 10 per cent of the population, is the only group with a history of serious, organised opposition to the Assad government.
The regime has sought to co-opt the Kurds since protests began by offering citizenship to approximately 300,000 who were left stateless by a 1962 census, and there have been rumours that Kurdish politicians are in dialogue with the regime, but these cannot be confirmed. Mr Tammo was reported to have spoken out against some Kurdish politicians, saying they had “contributed to the weakness of the Kurdish opposition”.
According to Mr Akko, the death of Mr Tammo could be a turning point for the Kurdish community’s participation in the uprising.
“If the death doesn’t take them to the streets, I will be sure there is negotiation between the regime and other Kurdish parties,” said Mr Akko.
Riad Seif, another leading opposition figure, was beaten by gunmen outside a mosque in the Damascus suburb of Midan on Friday, according to opposition activists, and was rushed to hospital.
The US state department described Mr Tammo’s death, together with the beating of Mr Seif as “a clear escalation of regime tactics”.
The UN said earlier this week that 2,900 people had been killed in the regime’s response to protests, which broke out in March. UN experts said on Friday that 187 of those killed were children.
US calls on Assad to “step down now” – AFP
WASHINGTON — The White House on Friday called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to “step down now,” warning he was taking his country down a “very dangerous path.”
In a statement, spokesman Jay Carney condemned the killing of Kurdish opposition leader Meshaal Tamo as well as the beating of a prominent Syrian activist, saying it showed “again that the Assad regime’s promises for dialogue and reform are hollow.”
“The United States strongly rejects violence directed against peaceful oppositionists wherever it occurs, and stands in solidarity with the courageous people of Syria who deserve their universal rights,” Carney said.
“Today’s attacks demonstrate the Syrian regime’s latest attempts to shut down peaceful opposition inside Syria. President Assad must step down now before taking his country further down this very dangerous path.”
Tamo, 53, a member of the newly formed Syrian National Council (SNC) opposition grouping, was killed when four masked gunmen stormed his house in Qamishli in the north and opened fire.
His son and another fellow activist in the Kurdish Future Party were wounded, activists said. Kurds are a minority ethnic group in Syria.
Former MP Riad Seif, meanwhile, was also attacked and beaten in the street.
The US State Department earlier charged that the Assad regime was escalating its tactics against the opposition with bold, daylight attacks on its leaders.
“This is a clear escalation of regime tactics,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters, referring to reports of Tamo’s murder.
In the past months, she said: “We’ve obviously had a number of opposition folks arrested. We have had reports of torture, beatings, etc, but not on the streets in broad daylight.
The tactic is “clearly designed to intimidate others,” Nuland said.
Nuland meanwhile welcomed reported remarks from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev who told Assad on Friday to either reform or resign.
“That is very positive,” she said, adding that she had not seen the statement.
“But as we have said, we want to see more countries join us not only in increasing the political and rhetorical pressure on the regime, but also tightening the economic noose,” Nuland said.
“And there are more steps that can be taken by countries like Russia to up the pressure on Assad,” she said.
Robert Ford, making a difference in Syria – David Ignatius (W.Post)
If you’re wondering what diplomats can do in an era of pulverizing military force and instantaneous communications, consider the case of Robert Ford, the U.S. ambassador to Syria. He has been meeting with the Syrian opposition around the country, risking his neck — and in the process infuriating the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Ford is an example of the free-form diplomacy the United States will need as it pulls back its troops from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He’s projecting American power quietly — through counseling the protesters and networking — rather than trying to wrap the opposition in the American flag, which would be the kiss of death for them.
I spoke with Ford last week by telephone, which is, at the moment, unfortunately the only way that most U.S. journalists can talk to him. He outlined the basic advice he has offered in meetings with opposition leaders, which is to remain peaceful and resist the slide toward sectarian violence.
Ford summarizes his message this way: “Don’t be violent. That’s crucial. If you do that, you’re playing into the hands of the government.”
And yet, as Ford notes, sectarian killing “is certainly on the upswing” in Syria. It’s a frightening cycle of attack and retaliation, reminiscent of the Sunni-vs.-Shiite mayhem that enveloped Iraq in 2006. The blood feud here is between Syria’s Sunni majority and the Alawite minority that has ruled since Assad’s father took power in 1970.
Wherever he goes, Ford asks practical questions — pressing the activists about incentives for Syrian business or about reforming the government budget. He counsels the embattled protesters against military action — which would only bring on a vicious civil war. He thinks time works against Assad, if protesters can avoid the trap of sectarian conflict.
It’s a narrow ledge that Ford is walking. But it’s good to see an American diplomat in the lead for a change, instead of the U.S. military.
Comments (747)
Ghufran said:
The US is not in the lead when it comes to Syria. My hope is that Russia,China and Egypt may be able to do what others fail,pressuring Asad to leave and convincing the opposition to capitalize on their gains and accept a unity government free from Alasad,his family and the lords of corruption and brutality.
October 7th, 2011, 8:32 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Thank you Alex for your first article,somehow I feel it was Alex who wrote it.
October 7th, 2011, 9:07 pm
zoo said:
Do I read that the hardline opposition is a dead end?
It does look like that:
The USA is filling the air with words. The EU has exhausted its sanctions stock. The UN resolution, the only binding one, has been killed. The opposition in Turkey is in a confused state on what to do next.
The only realistic hope is the tough pressure by Russia on Bashar Al Assad and on the Syrian opposition, not the Ghalioun one, to negotiate a ceasefire and accelerate the implementation of the reforms.
I doubt the hardline opposition will accept to be ignored and they may resort to more violent acts to prevent these ‘negotiations’ to proceed and succeed.
https://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=12429#comment-277370
October 7th, 2011, 9:13 pm
ann said:
Syria’s risks mute talk of Libya-style action – October 7, 2011 11:42
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/10/07/ap/middleeast/main20117272.shtml
(AP) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — In shaky videos posted on the web, some protesters in Syria have begun flashing signs appealing for international help. “Where is NATO?” some messages ask amid crackdowns that have claimed nearly 3,000 lives.
The answer: Waiting on the sidelines with other world powers and showing no willingness to open a Libyan-style military offensive against the regime of Bashar Assad.
“No intention whatsoever,” emphasized NATO’s secretary-general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, earlier this week in Brussels.
The reason is a brew of international political complications, worries over unleashing a civil war and plausible risks of touching off a wider Middle East conflict with archfoes Israel and Iran in the mix. In the end, Assad has more powerful friends and carries far more wild cards than Moammar Gadhafi’s Libya, analysts say.
“The Syrian regime is much more capable of causing trouble for the region and its allies,” said Shadi Hamid, director of research at The Brookings Doha Center in Qatar. “There’s a real risk of a major spillover effect.”
Prime targets are right on Syria’s borders: U.S.-backed Israel and NATO-member Turkey.
Assad and his main Mideast backer, Iran, could launch retaliatory attacks on Israel or — more likely — use proxy Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon or Palestinian militant allies for the job. To the north, Turkey has opened its doors to anti-Assad activists and breakaway military rebels, which also could bring Syrian reprisals.
But some see even greater dangers if Assad falls without a clear successor, such as the transition administration built by Libya’s former rebels.
Syria has an array of competing factions and allegiances, including some Sunni groups falling behind Saudi Arabia pitted against Assad’s Alawite minority with ties to Shiite power Iran. Assad has tried to exploit fears of a bloody unraveling in Syria by portraying himself as the only power capable of keeping peace.
“Israel is more worried if there is civil war,” said Meir Javedanfar, an Iranian-born regional analyst based in Israel. “During the chaos, Iranian-backed factions could take the opportunity to strike Israel. The last thing Iran wants is a Saudi-allied regime emerging in Syria. Iran will not sit by as spectators.”
Assad also still carries favor in Moscow and Beijing, which on Tuesday vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that would have condemned Syria for its crackdowns on pro-reform protesters. A divided Security Council puts an effective stranglehold on any discussions about military options.
Like Iran, both Russia and China worry that the downfall of Assad will be a severe blow to their interests in the Middle East.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday defended Russia’s veto, saying the resolution would have opened the door to future resolutions allowing military action. NATO launched its air campaign in Libya after a U.N. resolution authorizing countries to use military force — short of occupation — to enforce a no-fly zone and protect civilians.
Video clips that appeared Thursday showed protesters in Damascus holding a banner mocking the Russian “bear,” Chinese “dragon” and describing Assad as a bloodthirsty lion — the meaning of his name in Arabic. “Animals of the same kind,” it read.
In Geneva, the U.N.’s human rights office raised its tally of people killed during seven months of unrest in Syria to more than 2,900, including members of the security forces.
Sporadic individual calls for international military action have begun to arise among Syrian protesters. But most protesters and Syria’s opposition leaders have so far resisted the idea. At a rare opposition meeting in Damascus on Thursday, banners read: “Yes to the collapse of the tyrannical security regime” and “No to foreign military intervention.”
Assad’s government permitted the meeting in a possible attempt to show tolerance to some degree of dissent as long as it comes from within Syria.
“We firmly believe that history will bear out which nations were right and which were on the wrong side in this vote,” said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland after the Security Council stalemate. “Countries have to take responsibility for the decision that they made … and any implications it might have on the ground in Syria.”
Yet no one in Washington or elsewhere is raising the option of airstrikes — such as NATO’s campaign in Libya — or other types of military action to try to cripple Assad’s regime.
Libya shows another likely reason why: Gadhafi’s security forces battled for six months against rebels despite being hammered by NATO strikes, and they continue to fight in pockets a month after the fall of Tripoli.
Syria is believed to have a much stronger and cohesive military than Gadhafi’s. Its arsenal includes Russian-made MiG warplanes and modern air defense systems.
“Syria is not Libya,” said Khaled Mahadeen, a Jordanian columnist and former government adviser in Amman. “Any such action will have serious repercussions across the Arab world.”
Even Israeli officials have not been pressing for Western-led attacks to bring down Assad, though he sides with Israel’s chief enemies — Hezbollah and Hamas in Gaza.
Israel is already trying to reshape its policies after the fall of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, where the nation’s 32-year-old peace pact with Israel is now being questioned by Islamist groups and others with newfound power. An upheaval in Syria could raise new security questions in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in 1967. For all Assad’s hostility against Israel, he has kept the Golan front largely quiet for decades.
For the moment, the most likely channel for possible outside military help runs through Turkey, where a group of Syrian military defectors have set up a faction called the Free Syrian Army. Its leader, breakaway air force Col. Riad al-Asaad, said “armed rebellion” may be the only path for the opposition.
The military rebels, however, may first need to claim a slice of Syrian territory before they can pitch for Western or Arab aid like the anti-Gadhafi fighters in their de facto capital Benghazi, said the Qatar-based analyst Hamid.
“The Free Syrian Army needs to give the international community an address,” he said. “Benghazi was an address. They need to have a piece of territory of their own to say, ‘This is where we are basing our operations to hold this territory and protect the civilians within.'”
October 7th, 2011, 9:15 pm
jna said:
This is a consise and crystal clear summary of the situation in Syria by Ehsani. This quality of commentary, far above most media pundits, proves the merit of Syria Comment blog.
October 7th, 2011, 9:50 pm
Alex said:
Majedkhaldoon, I think you got too used to Ehsani writing mostly about the economy, and if you knew how much Ehsani and I argue each day (by email), you would not think that he would ask me to write an article with him.
But I don’ think there is much to disagree with him here. Is there?
October 7th, 2011, 10:02 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Bachar Al Issa
الآلاف من شباب القامشلي يحيطون بالمشفى حيث يرقد جثمان الشهيد مشعل التمو ويعالج ابنه ورفيقتم من جراحهم الخطيرة
نأمل من نشطاء الثورة السورية الديمقراطية ان يجعلوا من جنازة الشهيد مشعل غدا يوما حقيقيا للثورة الديمقراطية السلمية يوما يتقدم الجنازة قيادة الحركة الديمقراطية الاثورية والنشطاء الاخوة العربي يتقدمون قيادات الحركة الديمقراطية الكردية
يوم تخرج النساء بالآلاف لتتقدم الجنازة التي ستؤرخ لنهاية نظام بيت الاسد
ندعو كل الاصدقاء والاخوة الآشوريين والسريان والعرب والكرد ان يعلنوه في الوطن والمهاجر والمنافي يوما للوحدة الوطنية ونقلة في مسار الثورة الديمقراطية السورية انه يوم الشراكة في الوطن بالفعل وليس بالكلام
ننتظر غدا مئات الآلاف من شباب القامشلي والدرباسية وعامودا وراس العين في شوارع الجزيرةومدنه
October 7th, 2011, 10:30 pm
ghufran said:
This article is from August but is still a good read
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/08/12/syria.regime.assad.destruction/index.html
October 7th, 2011, 10:34 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
لحسكة :: الامن العسكري يقيم حواجز على الطريق الدولي الرابط بين
( الحسكة وقامشلو وعامودا وحلب ) ويحاول قطع الطرق بين تلك المدن
وحصار لمدينة الحسكة لمنع مشاركة اهلها بتشييع الشهيد مشعل
التمو وتنسيقية الحسكة الموحدة تتوعد بمظاهرات رغم الحصار
October 7th, 2011, 10:38 pm
ghufran said:
Abbas asking the big question
http://www.assafir.com/Article.aspx?EditionID=1971&ChannelID=46575&ArticleID=781
October 7th, 2011, 10:48 pm
zoo said:
The Turkish military only purpose on the border: No war but stopping possible immigration.
Not very encouraging for the FAS or anyone hoping Turkey will enter or bomb Syria to protect the protesters.
MEHMET ALİ BİRAND interviews Davutoglu:
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu was my guest on my 32.Gün (32nd Day) show on Oct. 6.
For a while, the question, “Are we going to war with Syria?” was haunting me. How could it not after the prime minister said he would not “be a mere spectator to what was going on in Syria” and the Turkish Armed Forces started exercises at the Syrian border.
The impression I got from the talk with Davutoğlu was not that a war would erupt or a military intervention was on the table. But it is as such that Assad will not be able to stay in power anymore. Turkey’s concern is the spread of an internal conflict in Syria and that we are faced with a major migration wave. As far as I understand, military measures are more toward obstructing this possible immigration.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=is-there-a-military-intervention-in-syria-2011-10-07
October 7th, 2011, 11:02 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
“A sick world we live in when Steve Jobs has to die of cancer and Bashar al-Assad remains Syria’s cancer,” another tweeted.
October 7th, 2011, 11:13 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
قناة العربية تحاور السياسي الكوردي مشعل التمو
October 7th, 2011, 11:20 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
كلمة المعارض الكوردي مشعل التمو بعد اطلاق سراحه.قامشلو
October 7th, 2011, 11:23 pm
zoo said:
Follow-on #11
It would be ironical that Syrian refugees re-occupy the province of Hatay that was part of Syria until 1937. Its population is mostly ethnic Syrians and speak arabic. I would not be surprised if the Syrian government encourages or pushes Syrians to emigrate to Hatay as a way to regain a foothold on a land they still consider as part of Syria. No wonder Turkey is worried of a possible influx. They have 7,500 Syrians tightly kept in detention centers waiting to send them back, I guess they dread to see more coming .. and claiming the land as theirs. A possible reprisal to Erdogan’s promised sanctions on Syria.
October 7th, 2011, 11:25 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
حول توحيد المعارضة السورية 12مشعل تمو
October 7th, 2011, 11:26 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
غضب عام في سوريا بعد مقتل المعارض البارز مشعل التمو.. والأكراد يدعون للتصعيد
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/10/08/170721.html
October 7th, 2011, 11:31 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
دعوة للمشاركة في سبت الوفاء لتشييع الشهيد مشعل التمو
صامد أنت يا جبل لا تهزك رياح الغدر ولا تثني عزيمتك بنادق الشبيحة ورصاص الأمن صامد يا جبل رغم كيد الكائدين ورغم كل أقنعة الزيف وسكاكين الغدر التي تُطعن في جسدك الطاهر، كذا الجبال لا تنحني إلا لباريها وكذا الرجال صناديق لا تعلموا ما فيها، أقسمنا بمن قبلوك يا جبل، بمن احتموا فيك لنحو أحد عشر ألف عام و خرجوا من رحمك يزفون للأمم قصص الثورة والتضحية أساطيرا من الشموخ و الكبرياء، كوتيين و ميتانيين من الميديين إلى ديركا حمكو و بياندور مرورا بشكفتا دو دري وجبال الزاوية وجبال الأكراد فقلعة الحصن إلى ثوار الغوطة وركن الدين إنه شعب يأبى الركوع إلا لله كما يأبى أن تحكمه ثلة من الشبيحة و المرتزقة و المأجورين.
قف فأنت في حضرة المارد الكوردي إن كنت لا تعلم يا بشار، ألم تصلك أنباء أسلافهم، ألم يخبرك أسلافك عن هذا الكوردي العنيد الذي لا يتوان عن طلب الحرية و الحياة، ألم يعلموك ألا تستبيح شرايين دجلة و الفرات، ودماء من لا يرضى الضيم عنوانا ولا المذلة حياة، ألم تقرأ صحائف الأولين، أيها الهائم على وجهك ألا تدرك ما تفعل، بل لا تدرك أين سينتهي بك القدر أمام هذا السيل الجارف القادم من الشمال، فتهيأ لجولة لن يرحمك فيها أحد، ولن يصفح فيها عنك إنسان. غدا سنزف شهيدنا مكللا بعلمنا، غدا سننثر الورد بألوان الطيف على جسده الطاهر، غدا سنعلن الربيع قبل أوانه.
وفاءا للشهيد نعلن نحن اتحاد تنسيقيات شباب الكورد في سوريا (تنسيقية قامشلو – تنسيقية عامودا – تنسيقية الدرباسية – تنسيقية سري كانيه – تنسيقية الحسكة – تنسيقية كوباني – تنسيقية عفرين – تنسيقية حلب – تنسيقية دمشق) بالخروج و بكل قوة إكراما لدم الشهيد. كما ونعلن الحداد على روح الشهيد لثلاثة أيام في كافة المدن السورية.
وسيتم تشيعه في قامشلو إلى مقبرة الشهداء لرمزيتها لدى الشعب الكوردي ونقلا عن ذويه سيتم الانتقال بجسده الطاهر إلى مدينة عامودا حيث ستشيعه بدورها ومن ثم إلى مدينة الدرباسية كذلك وأخيرا إلى مسقط رأسه في قرية الجنازية حيث سيوارى الثرى وتقام مراسم الدفن والعزاء.
الخلود لشهداء الثورة السورية
الموت للشبيحة و المأجورين
8-10-2011
اتحاد تنسيقيات شباب الكورد في سوريا
October 7th, 2011, 11:33 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
The Sadistic Dictator Bashar Al-Assad Consist Of Only Lies And Massacres Against Unarmed Protesters And Freedom Seekers In Syria 25.03.2011
October 7th, 2011, 11:37 pm
873 said:
USA may soon have its hands full, so Israel will have to destroy Syria itself, instead of using America as its proxy to do it for them. Isaiah 17 Destruction of Damascus prophecy has been recited incessently this year by the “pious” zionists-xtian & jew (who should be imprisoned for Hate Speech and incitement to violence in my opinion). But more along those lines…
David’s HAARP weapon has been on HIGH fire upon the Canary Islands causing 10,000 earthquakes since July 17. Weather warfare that could catalyze a tsunami to wipe out the E Coast. Already the zionists are saying it would be “God’s punishment to the world for trying to divide Eretz Israel”. Northcom and NATO are active on the project- not ‘standing down’ as they did for the first one in 9/11/2001. They are even setting up off Cadiz.
The quakes, which have puzzled scientists since their inception, “spiked up radically” when the UN went into negotiations for Palestine Statehood on Rosh Hashanah, and now for Yom Kippur after UNESCO endorsed Palestine Statehood they are reaching danger pitch, as David’s HAARP has been thundering quakes again with escalating intensity.
“Natural disaster”. What airtight deniability.
October 7th, 2011, 11:49 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
هذا هو سبب اغتيال الشهيد مشعل تمو رحمة الله
October 7th, 2011, 11:54 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
حمص تثور لأغتيال الشهيد مشعل تمو 7-10-2011
October 7th, 2011, 11:58 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
For this reason he was killed
October 8th, 2011, 12:00 am
Haytham Khoury said:
مشعل تمو 07.010.2011 المناضل الشهيد مشعل تمو
October 8th, 2011, 12:02 am
Haytham Khoury said:
قامشلو في مسائية استشهاد المناضل مشعل التمو7 10 2011
October 8th, 2011, 12:05 am
873 said:
Spanish scientists reported that the CO2 monitors around the most dangerous volcanoes were recently STOLEN. There had been 600 instruments stationed around Cumbre Vieja area for early warning system since 1996 and suddenly – gone! Disappeared faster than a pile of WMDs or Niger yellowcake. Add to this fact, that last spring the top US military brass was ordered away from the East Coast and to relocate to WEST of the Mississippi River by July 1st, and Illuminati agents could have some actionable ‘coincidences’ to answer for.
October 8th, 2011, 12:05 am
Haytham Khoury said:
القامشلي : عاجل : قام مجموعة من الشباب الثائر في مدينة القامشلي بعملية اطلقو عليها اسم عملية التطهير وفاءً لاستشهاد الاستاذ المناضل مشعل التمو و ذلك بازالة صور الساقط بشار و أبيه المقبور من الشوارع و تكسير جميع الأصنام
الله محيي أحفاد صلاح الدين الأيوبي … الله محيي أبطال القامشلي و عامودا
October 8th, 2011, 12:08 am
Ya Mara Ghalba said:
Ehsani quotes US government spokesperson Victoria Nuland saying the US welcomed reported remarks from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev who told Assad on Friday to either reform or resign. “That is very positive,” Nuland said, adding that she had not seen Medvedev’s statement.
Everybody in Syria wants reform of the political institutions. Absolutely everybody! And there’s very little disagreement about what the reforms should be! Most of the reforms have happened already but we’re still awaiting the reform that deletes Article 8 of the Constitution, which is the backbone for all the other reforms. Now, here’s what Medvedev’s statement was: “If the Syrian leadership is unable to complete such reforms, it will have to go, but this decision should be made not by NATO and certain European countries, it should be made by the people of Syria and the government of Syria,” Medvedev said. http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/07/world/meast/syria-unrest/
********
PS: It is deeply disgusting to all reasonable people that the US government spokesperson Nuland insinuates and even flatly declares that today’s murder of Syrian Kurdish dissident Tamo was done by pro-regime Syrians. Tamo was murdered by four masked men whose identities are quite unknown. He could’ve been murdered by other dissidents for being a regime informant, perhaps. Or he could’ve possibly been murdered by other Kurds over some internal dispute amongst Kurds, perhaps. It was murder. The Syrian regime does not commit murder, and there is no evidence whatsoever linking the regime to his murder, and the regime has no motive to select him for murder nor I assume even for arrest. I hope the regime is successful in finding the murderers and executing them. Murderers of pro-regime political opinion shall be executed as swifty as murderers of any other stripe!
Allah, Souria, As-Shaab, Assad, ou bas! Sorry about the thick aajami accent. Disgussting shite like the above from the USA is making me more pro-Syrian every day.
October 8th, 2011, 12:37 am
Ali said:
Anyone that denies the fact that armed gangs in Syria exist is truly in need of help. These gangs are responsible for the deaths of many Syrian citizens and Security officers and this needs to be dealt with immediately! This has gone too far.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XPv6OAfBfQ&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AluxmaOP6jI&feature=related
http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2011/10/07/374113.htm?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook
October 8th, 2011, 12:41 am
Syrian Nationalist Party said:
@26. 873said:
More on this subject matter please, we are compiling it all bit by bit and missing many pieces in the puzzle. Something very sinister is going on, under very top secret and compartmentized plan. It has to do with tectonics scale earthquakes, pole shift, close encounter with a celestial object, definitely aliens, extraterrestrial and subterranean/underwater. Keep posting on this subject, may see the picture of this 6000 pieces puzzle that someone doing a hellllof job keeping secret.
October 8th, 2011, 12:42 am
Ali said:
Reports state that Military engineering units in Deir Ezzor province on Friday dismantled two explosive devices weighing around 6 kg each, planted by armed terrorist groups in places crowded with people.
One of the devices was found at Shawakh car stand in Deir Ezzor city while the other was found in al-Mahkameh Street in the city of Bukamal.
A correspondent in the province reported an informed source as saying that a third explosive device blew up in al-Nil Park in the center of the city.
The source said that the device was made up of a gas cylinder filled with explosives and no injuries were reported.
The competent authorities in Deir Ezzor released a law enforcement member who had been kidnapped by an armed terrorist group, the source pointed out.
In another context, a group of gunmen riding a motorcycle attempted to kidnap the mayor of al-Ashareh Municipality in Deir Ezzor. The gunmen were confronted by some citizens and were forced to flee away leaving their motorcycle behind.
In Daraa province, members of engineering units dismantled two explosive devices planted by armed terrorist groups in areas expected to witness gatherings of people in response to online calls for protests last week.
One of the devices weighs 20 kg, while the other weighs 12 kg.
October 8th, 2011, 12:43 am
AIG said:
Ehsani,
You are not a military man so you don’t know, but months and months of this police type duty is going to completely wear down the Syrian army. People and equipment are going to wear down and it will be difficult to replace them. Plus, just the cost of fuel for so many vehicles for such a long period of time is prohibitive. I am not saying Assad is going to fall tomorrow. In fact, I plainly said many months ago that it will take a long time. But you are incorrect in assuming that the Syrian army can keep this up forever. My estimate is that in another 6 months or so the number of inoperative tanks and troop carriers will be very high and troop moral will be ultra low.
Bottom line, it is not clear at all that foreign help will be needed to beat the Syrian army. It will slowly but surely grind down to a halt and will not be able to control all of Syria’s territory. It may take 6 months or it may take 2 years, but it will surely happen. That is the nature of the beast. Together with sanctions on the oil sector, this could bring the regime down or weaken Syria to the level of Zimbabwe.
The regime knows this too of course and that is why they want a decisive victory. But that is not in the cards. They are playing whack a mole with the protesters and cannot be at all places at all times. And as time progresses they will be able to be in less places for less time.
October 8th, 2011, 1:06 am
Syrian Nationalist Party said:
Well, EHSANI summed it all up. But for details here is a link for an article by this professor:
– Jeremy Salt is associate professor in Middle Eastern History and Politics at Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey. Previously, he taught at Bosporus University in Istanbul and the University of Melbourne in the Departments of Middle Eastern Studies and Political Science. Professor Salt has written many articles on Middle East issues, particularly Palestine, and was a journalist for The Age newspaper when he lived in Melbourne. He contributed this article to PalestineChronicle.com.
http://www.rense.com/general94/truthh.htm
October 8th, 2011, 1:32 am
Alex said:
AIG
Read this article by Anthony Shadid from June
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11181/1157314-82-0.stm?cmpid=nationworld.xml
I discussed it with Anthony and he assured me he spoke to many reliable sources and experts who agreed that the Syrian army HAD TO evacuate Hama four months ago because of exhaustion and because they could not afford to continue functioning.
Exactly your points.
Funny how ring wing Israelis and anti regime Syrian opposition in Washington always try to promote the same arguments.
Obviously the Syrian army can not continue to police every city “forever”, and obviously Syria will be facing serious economic challenges. But many other countries are having serious financial or social problems. This is a dynamic period that will affect Syria, Israel, Greece, … and many other countries.
How they all deal with it will be something that none of us can predict with such certainty.
October 8th, 2011, 1:53 am
Syria no kandahar said:
For those opposition dummies ready to judge and solve crimes in seconds
It is just a matter of cheep political gain all the time.Why would the regime even think of killing Mr Timo?not even one gain from such an assassination .in fact opposition and Turkey can gain big time from such a crime:
1-Lighting up Qamishli and Aljazera is a dream for the opposition,Mr Timo’s blood is the oil which the opposition hops it will ignites Aljazera.
2-Kurds have been practically on the fence ,this is an action which is planned to move them inside the fence.
3-Kurdish-Arabic-Christian relationships have been strong,blood is hoped to turn Aljazera into Homs Hell.
4-Igniting Aljazera will stretch the Syrian Army further and will weaken it.
5-Spelling Blood and starting Homs style civil war in border towns with Turkey will be a source for refugees to Turkey and an easy way for Turkey to buy on that to weaken the regime further(especially Christian refugees)
6-With the regime winning in Damascus,Aleppo,Hama,Edlib,Homs,Dara…And with Fridays becoming boring and less than 1%in the streets,and with the winter coming …the (revolution)needed new blood,and a new frontier..devils picked up the Kurdish card.
7-Turkey is a big player in Qamishli .Turkish intelligence is strong in Qamishli.10 years ago the hijacked a Syrian Armenian into Turkey,he was in Turkish jails for many years.Turks can do such an operation with eyes closed.
8-Turks have the blood of at least 30000 Kurds over the last few decades.Turkey up to today can kill or jail any Kurd without any law authority.Actually they kill Kurds in Iraq with every ones mouth closed including Iraq,USA and Europ,This is democracy Turkish style.
9-The regime from day one was very aggressive in trying to win the Kurds to his side,They will never jeopardize all that for killing some one as peaceful as mr Timo.
Opposition Nurds are so sure about the killers all the time.in few seconds dummies like Revlon knew that Alshabiha did it.in fact Erdogan’s mom was killed by Alshabiha.
October 8th, 2011, 2:56 am
annie said:
I totally agree with
23. Haytham Khoury said:
For this reason he was killed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQ-QyEFHtB0&feature=related
and I wish Aboud was here for a retort to
28. Ya Mara Ghalba; even the ziohasbarites are better at that.
October 8th, 2011, 3:00 am
Mina said:
No doubt some museums will miraculously get looted as in Baghdad. It bothers both some fundamentalist Jews and Muslims (the earliest preserved jewish temple, full of paintings and pictures: dura europos
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synagogue_de_Doura_Europos
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dura-Europos )
and the museums showing all the treasures of Arab and Greek paganism. Pure ibdaa’.
October 8th, 2011, 3:31 am
873 said:
30. Syrian Nationalist Party said:
More on this subject matter please
SNP,
Here is a bit on ETs Aliens-
Aliens= Elyons from jewish lore. El=Saturn. Thus ELohim, TempLE (house of Saturn) etc etc.
Naval Intelligence vet Bill Cooper, who Bill clinton called ‘most dangerous man in America” before he was assassinated by US govt after he predicted 911 false flag event 2 months beforehand in 2001:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l46n7hEtswg
Carol Rosin- The Disclosure Project
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR4rZ2bD8CE
Pres Reagan
http://socioecohistory.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/president-ronald-reagans-1987-speech-about-ufo-alien-invasion-at-united-nations/
If a tsunami hits the Atlantic rim countries ala Band Aceh, know it was MANMADE.
October 8th, 2011, 3:38 am
Mina said:
873 is the last one who has seen the famous al Jazeera pills, obviously.
More seriously, contrarily to the US injunctions, I don’t see any benefit in a replacement of the militaries from the Egyptian gov by any other incompetent and candid team. The situation is far too volatile.
Can’t wait to see an exodus of hundreds of thousands Palestinian refugees go back to their land when the situation in Syria will be completely out of control, Iraqi style. Plus other columns of hundreds of thousands Iraqi refugees obliged to go back home.
October 8th, 2011, 4:41 am
Son of Damascus said:
@ 873 post 38
Videos about aliens that have scenes from a Hollywood movie (independence day) juxtaposed next to the falling WTC towers is NOT something that should be taken seriously (Or anything by Bill Cooper as well, who was a wanted criminal that died in a shoot out with the sheriff department)
If you really want to learn about astronomy, and the world beyond Earth I would highly recommend Carl Sagan.
This video that is narrated by him is a very humbling to watch. In short he speaks about how Earth looked like from Voyageur Satellite 4 billion miles away. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pfwY2TNehw
Conspiracy theories are nothing but unproven theories. Don’t believe everything that is fed to you.
Regards
Son of Damascus
October 8th, 2011, 5:00 am
uzair8 said:
@35 SNK
‘6-With the regime winning in Damascus,Aleppo,Hama,Edlib,Homs,Dara…’
Aboud would never have let this gem pass without a typical response.
There’s the bait. SNK that was unwise. A red rag to a bull.
October 8th, 2011, 6:15 am
Revlon said:
Mr Tammo was not just any activist.
Mr Tammo was a prominent, Kurdish political figure.
The regime has done every thing, and has largely succeeded in appeasing the Kurds into staying largely neutral.
Mr Tammo apparently broke a Kurdish-Regime political deal and stepped over a red line.
The deal was to give the Kurds citizenships and probably to give in to some other demands.
The Kurds in turn would respect a political red line; The sanctity of the regime.
Mr Tammo was not killed by “mistake”
He was not killed by random fire while demonstrating.
He was not killed at home as a result of a burst of anger from an aquaintance or enemy.
He was killed while in hiding!
To take out a political leader of such caliber and of such ethnicity would require a political decision of the highest order. I would argue that even Maher AlAssad would not have taken such a sensitive decision on his own.
The political green light for the execution was given by Thug One The plan was made by his close security circle.
The operation was clandestine and would not have been delegated to the non-professional paramilitias (Shabbeeha).
The security forces have special units for such mission. It is the black shirt security Phalange.
Those who survived the attack need to be given absolute protectionas eye witnesses.
October 8th, 2011, 6:20 am
uzair8 said:
Syrian army defectors tell of regime ruthlessness
Saturday, 08 October 2011
When the Syrian army raided his village in the central province of Homs and began shooting at unarmed civilians, Amin knew it was time to join the growing ranks of soldiers defecting to the opposition.
“I was off duty that day in June and I couldn’t bear what I saw,” the 25-year-old lieutenant told AFP, asking that his real name not be used.
“I decided then to send my parents and siblings to a safe area and I slipped across the border into Lebanon.”
Several soldiers who have defected in recent months and fled to Lebanon gave similar harrowing tales, describing a “scorched earth” campaign by the regime of Bashar al-Assad and its much feared “shabiha,” or pro-government thugs, to crush the seven-month popular revolt.
The soldiers showed AFP their army ID cards as proof of their identity.
Amin said that on one occasion, soldiers burst into the house of a suspected activist in his village and shot the man’s wife and daughter in the legs to force them to reveal his whereabouts.
“When the army carries out such operations, the shabiha are then given a free hand to loot and destroy,” he said.
Read more:
http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/10/08/170774.html
[Other selected quotes]
….“If you fail to shoot, then they kill you and tell your family that it was the work of an armed terrorist gang,” said Rami, in his 40s.
…“I saw with my own eyes an unarmed older farmer in a village in Homs province go by on a bicycle and we were ordered to shoot him in the back,” he said emotionally. “He was left there to bleed all day.
….He also said security services often shoot at army units to uphold the regime’s “tale” that armed terrorist groups are behind the uprising.
October 8th, 2011, 6:21 am
uzair8 said:
Robert Fisk: Jerusalem can do strange things to your sanity
Saturday, 8 October 2011
So there was this chap, a bearded guy, spectacles, a settler, asking for a lift from Hebron to Kiryat Arba.
And Kiryat Arba is quite a settlement, home to Baruch Goldstein who killed about 50 Palestinians before he himself was killed by the survivors, and Don, our man in Jerusalem – who was driving – said “Are you sure?” and my companion and I, anxious to hear “another point of view”, said “Why not?” and this chap climbed in to the back seat next to me. And as we left Hebron, he pointed to us and said: “Jew? Jew? Jew?”
And I was a bit taken aback and let Don do the talking, and he said: “No.” That kept our mate quiet for a bit. He had a gun in his belt, which I didn’t really like. But armed Palestinians had killed Jewish settlers, so I kept my mouth shut. Then we reached Kiryat Arba and an enormous chap – with an even bigger beard – came to the car window with an equally enormous gun and said we could enter. And this settler beside me said: “The Land of Israel – for Israelis. Arabs. In London.” Well, I see, we murmured. A bit like the Balfour Declaration in reverse, I suppose. “His Majesty’s Government views with favour the establishment in Britain of a national home for the Arab people …” Well there you have it, I suppose.
Read more:
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-jerusalem-can-do-strange-things-to-your-sanity-2367397.html
October 8th, 2011, 6:38 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
Bee
SNK
5-Spelling Blood
B L O O D
October 8th, 2011, 6:39 am
Ali said:
HOMS:
Karm Al Zaytoon
——————-
50-60 protesters, among them ten armed men who shot fire randomly, which forced the army units to shoot back, killing two of them.. then the numbers of armed men increase and started targeting the houses in the area, one of the houses belong to the citizen “Ali Horani” were they shot an RBG shell at his balcony… no casualties recorded.
Al Khaldieh area
——————–
150-200 protesters started shooting fire at the houses of Al Sabil neighborhood and Karm Shumshum neighborhood where they launched 4 RBG shells at the neighborhood (first one hit a house door, the second hit the third floor of the building, the fourth and fifth hit the street) … our army fought back.
Karm Al Shamy neighborhood
———————————–
50-70 protesters, didn’t last long, as their armed men started shooting fire at a security unit checkpoint.
Bab Sbaa neighborhood
—————————–
100-150 protesters
Jeb Al JAndali
—————-
The area that hid in its houses hundreds of armed men, who tried yesterday attack Iskandaron and Zahraa streets, but our army prevented them.
They went to the streets this Friday fully armed (Pistols, Russian rifles, RBG launchers …) their figures were about 50-70 armed men, while the demonstrators were about 50-70 also.
They also burned a car, as seen in this video: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=160316654059316 .
October 8th, 2011, 6:39 am
Revlon said:
Sources close to the regime are suggesting that the mutilated body thought of Zeinab’s might be that of the prisoned young school girl Tal AlMalluhi.
Activist are demanding that the regime show her on screen to prove she was still alive.
ناشطون يطالبون بإظهار طل الملوحي على الإعلام
2011/10/08نشر فى: أخبار محلية
http://all4syria.info/web/archives/31166
تسري تكهنات منبعها شائعات بثها مقربون من النظام السوري أن الناشطة المعارضة ” طل الملوحي ” قد تكون هي صاحبة الجثة التي سلمتها السلطات السورية الى آل الحصني على أنها جثة ابتهم زينب، التي عاد وتبيّن أنها حيّة ، ودعا ناشطون السلطات السورية الى إظهار طل الملوحي على الإعلام !
October 8th, 2011, 7:03 am
Mina said:
Lovely pic, from the Wall Street activists:
http://app.owni.fr/owni-gallery/appinc/externalThumb.php?u=http://owni.fr/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/occupywallstreet/occupy15.jpg&f=1076-occupy15.jpg&w=990&h=667&1318072686
We need a global solution, not a war.
October 8th, 2011, 7:32 am
Areal said:
REALITY
Nationalistic Opposition Figure Mashaal Tammo Assassinated, His Son Marcel and Companion Wounded by Armed Terrorist Group
An armed terrorist group on Friday afternoon assassinated the nationalistic opposition figure Mishaal Tammo and wounded his son Marcel and Zahida Rash Kilo.
Informed sources told SANA that four gunmen using a black car opened fire from machineguns on Tammo who was invited to lunch at a friend’s in the western district of Qamishli city accompanied by his son and Kilo.
The attack led to the martyring of Tammo immediately, while his son was injured with a gunshot to the abdomen and Kilo was shot in the foot.
People in Qamishli said the assassination of Tammo aims at undermining national unity and civil peace.
Mashaal Tammo was an agricultural engineer who entered the political arena in 1990, establishing the Kurdish Future Party in 2005 with a group of others. He was against the calls by the opposition abroad for interfering in Syria’s affairs and rejected the use of arms.
Tammo had continuously stressed the importance of national unity and comprehensive political, economic and social reforms. He left behind a wife and six son.
http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2011/10/08/374064.htm
October 8th, 2011, 7:42 am
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
@ majedkhaldoun
I can tell it wasn’t written by Alex because it actually reads well.
October 8th, 2011, 7:42 am
NEW REGIME NEW HOPE said:
“ASSAD SCUMBAG LEAVE SYRIA, LEAVE SYRIA RIGHT NOW!
…YOUR KILLING A LOT OF PEOPLE!
…YOUR FAMILY IS THE MOST DISGUSTING IN THE WORLD…
…YOUR REGIME WILL FAIL, WILL FAIL!”
I wish Assad was confronted like in the video:
October 8th, 2011, 7:46 am
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
@ Ya Mara Ghalba
“The Syrian regime does not commit murder”
What are you rambling on about? Hundreds of unarmed civilians have been killed by the President’s army. Get your head out of the sand.
And why do you think it is we have been waiting so long for the removal of article 8? It would seem a pretty simple thing to do, no?
October 8th, 2011, 7:51 am
Areal said:
REALITY
Fawwaz al-Bashir Refutes al-Arabiya News on Sheikh Nawwaf al-Bashir Tortured to Death
Sheikh Fawwaz al-Bashir, cousin of Sheikh Nawwaf al-Bashir, denied al-Arabiya news claiming that Sheikh Nawwaf was tortured to death.
In a phone call with the Syrian TV on Friday, al-Bashir said ”We were shocked at a news broadcast by al-Arabiya claiming that Sheikh Nawwaf was killed under torture. It was a real calamity for his family and friends.”
Al-Bashir added that he visited on Friday Sheikh Nawwaf and ascertained that he is safe and sound and the news completely baseless.
Al-Bashir condemned, in the name of al-Bashir family and al-Bakkara clan, the fake news broadcast by al-Arabiya. ”I’ve been trying to contact al-Arabiya by phone since 09:00 a.m. and they told me that they will call me soon, but it didn’t happen,” said al-Bashir.
He said that he intended to call the channel in order to deny the news, but to no avail.
http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2011/10/08/374064.htm
October 8th, 2011, 7:55 am
uzair8 said:
Someone posted this elsewhere:
“Russia an honest broker and respecter of nation’s sovereignty-are you serious? What about Chechnya, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Afghanistan to name but a few?
The only reason the Russians are involved is to provide logistical and tactical support to the Assad regime. Their record demonstrates that they have no ambition for secessionist or independence movements. For instance, this* Wikipedia article about the Black January massacre perpetrated by Soviet troops in Azerbaijan in 1990 is highly instructive.
“the army waged a war on its civilians…the troops attacked the protesters, firing into the crowds… alleged civil disorder was cited as justification for violent intervention by Soviet troops -further confirms that the Soviet Government has demonstrated that it will deal harshly with nationalist movements…[according to Gorbachev] the people of this then-Soviet republic were heavily armed gangs of hooligans and drug-traffickers who were destabilizing the country and quite possibly receiving support from foreign governments.”
It all sounds so depressingly familiar doesn’t it? ”
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_January
October 8th, 2011, 7:56 am
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
@ Ya Mara Ghalba
Three questions:
1. If Assad were such a reformer, why did he not entertain the idea of a multi-party polity before 2011?
2. You have made it clear that you would vote for Assad in any future elections (were they to be held). What is it about his ‘manifesto’ that you find so compelling?
3. What significant internal reforms has Assad instigated over the past ten years?
October 8th, 2011, 8:06 am
Mina said:
Question, was Tammo Sunni? The name of his son, Marsal, would point to a Christian family, but I am not aware of Christian Kurds. Can anyone explain this to me? I know that there is a heavy Christian population in Qamishli, most of them who came as refugees after being massacred by the Turks in Diyarbakir, once at the end of the 19th c. and once at the same time as the Armenian genocide.
October 8th, 2011, 8:09 am
Khalid Tlass said:
As I said before, the majority of Syrians are anti-regime pro-change, but be rest assured we don’t have a too high a majority, I guess its like 60 %.
Look at the demographics of Syria, 65 % are Sunni Arabs, 10 % are Alawis, 12 % are Christians , 10 % are Sunni Kurds and 3 % Druze.
Assuming we have the support of 55 % of the 65 % Sunni Arabs, plus 5 % of Sunnu Kurds. the rest 5 % of Kurds are fence sitters and we need theur support and for that we have to abandon every pretence of being Arab. The 3 % of Druze are also mostly anti-regime, but the problem is the feudal nature of their society, they follow their clan leaders blindly and do whatever they tell them to, and the corrupt Druze clan leaders are all bribed by Assad.
So maximum support we can get is around 60 to 65 % of the population. My guess is MOST Alawis and Christians are solidly pro-regime for their own selfish interests. Its no longer worth it trying to convince them, if they wanted to they would have been convinced by now.
And don’t underestimate the number of Sunni sellouts and brainwashed menhebaks, its quite substantial, I guess 20 % of Sunni Arabs. Usually the staunch secularists are like this and some selfish businessmen. Usually secularism and Islamophobia is stronger among Sunni professional classes like Doctors, professors, engineers, Army officers; but the new generation of Sunni professionals are more religious and more anti-Assad. I repeat, you might find that Sunni menehbaks are even more hardcore in their “love” than the others becoz usually its backed up by ideology ( albeit obsolete).
So pls remember that in all times and circumstances about 30 % of the population will always be against us, and this 30 % have all the resources of the State in their hands. Its gonna be a long fight, and we MUST be extremely violent. This is not like Hama 1982 when the ppl became scared after the massacre, the fear barrier has been broken, we must use low intensity campaign of terror, we will win eventually. And anyway our objective now is simple REVENGE, we want them to feel our pain, just like Hassoun is feeling the pain, and the family of that Alawi doctor in Homs is feeling the pain, we should keep it up, make them cry, fill their graveyards.
October 8th, 2011, 8:17 am
Khalid Tlass said:
And I am sick and tired of hearing Armenians and Assyrians cry about being massacred by the Ottoman Turkish Government during the Firts World War. For God’s sake, go to Turkey and cry to Erdogan about it, don;t use it to justify State repression on Sunni Arabs. Turkey is one of the most anti-minority nations in the world and Turks do have a strong anti-minority streak. Most of the oppression on minorities in SYRIA was done during the Ottoman regime which ws ruled by TURKS, not by native Syrian Sunni Srabs, so PLEASE don’t give us any of your tongue. WE didn;t repress you, foreigners did.
October 8th, 2011, 8:23 am
Areal said:
REALITY
An officer and a number of law-enforcement members were injured by armed terrorist groups in Douma countryside .
An informed source told SANA that an attack by an armed terrorist group on a law enforcement forces patrol in the countryside of Douma city in Damascus Countryside resulted in injuring a number of the members of the competent authorities which confronted the gunmen, killing three of them.
The attack took place an hour after al-Jazeera TV broadcast a news report on shooting in Douma at the time when the city was quite calm and life was normal.
NOTE
Douma is the place from where BBC’s Lyse Doucet reported yesterday that she saw only unarmed peaceful protesters and where a bomb has been remotely detonated when a engineer tried to defuse it.
http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2011/10/01/372575.htm
October 8th, 2011, 8:30 am
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
@ KHLAID TLASS
“My guess is MOST Alawis and Christians are solidly pro-regime for their own selfish interests. Its no longer worth it trying to convince them, if they wanted to they would have been convinced by now.”
My guess is that most Alawis and Christians are solidly pro-regime because of bigoted fools like you. Democracy isn’t about putting the majority in government and saying bugger off to every one else – any fool can do that. It’s about the protection of minority rights. Boy do you have a lot to learn.
October 8th, 2011, 8:36 am
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
” Usually secularism and Islamophobia is stronger among Sunni professional classes like Doctors, professors, engineers, Army officers; but the new generation of Sunni professionals are more religious and more anti-Assad.”
Stop ranting on about Islamophobia. Not everyone cares about religion in the way that you do. Sure, go to your mosque and pray, but don’t expect that everyone else wants to hear about it.
Would you sharia law in your new Syria?
October 8th, 2011, 8:41 am
Aboud said:
Thank you for that well written article Ehsani. However, I am puzzled as to why you did not continue with the America-Iraq analogy to the very end; namely, that it is possible for an army to occupy every city and village, and still end up losing a conflict. Vietnam? Afghanistan? The Iraq war? Hizbollah’s war against Israel?
What we are seeing is the beginnings of a classic guerrilla style war. I cannot count the number of times the army sent its tanks into Baba Amr and other areas of Homs, only for the army defectors they were chasing to slip away, and come back after a few days to rain hell on the checkpoints the army tried to set up. Take a look at Brazil street, you can see signs of abandoned checkpoints. Ditto the one that used to be at the Basman hotel.
In a guerrilla war, the only thing the guerrillas have to do is live to fight another day. Guerrilla warfare does not have, as its aim, the control of a town or hill or village. If the conventional army cannot capture or kill the leadership or a significant portion of the opposing force, all their deployments and maneuvers don’t count for squat. Which is why the regime’s operation in Rastan was such a failure. How could they have had the town surrounded for so long, and yet let their opponents slip away to fight another day.
Guerrilla warfare is *impossible* to carry out without the assistance and cooperation of the local, non-combatant civilian population. The ability for any armed group opposed to the regime to operate, says alot about the ordinary Syrian’s feelings towards the regime.
Foreign armed groups infiltrating an entire country is a nice fantasy, good fodder for Hollywood movies, but in reality such groups cannot stay hidden for long nor operate anywhere near on the scale the regime is claiming. Never in history has such a group, infiltrated from the outside, managed to carry out a prolonged campaign against their target country. Even the Palestinian groups could only manage hit and run attacks inside Israel before they had Gaza and the West Bank to hide in.
No, only a home grown armed opposition, that grew out of the discontent of the local populace, could possibly have killed 700 security men as Buthaina Sha’ban is claiming.
Or is it 1100 as the Baathist deputy foreign minister claimed today? Funny kind of “winning”, when four hundred security men are killed in a matter of 3 weeks. Where were they supposed to have been killed? In Rastan? That would have made then casualties of a fight against their own defected former-comrades.
Or do the menhebaks want us to believe that 400 security men were all slaughtered in Homs within the past 3 weeks? See what happens, the contradictions a narrative based on lies inevitably falls into?
Guerrilla warfare is a very viable option for the opposition. The armament requirements are modest, no land, town or city needs to be held, and it favors the person who is native to the area, unlike the Latakia shabeh sent to control Homs, who ends up needing to ask for directions towards Khaldia and then finds himself instead in Bab Edreb.
In such a prolonged conflict, the more committed side always ends up winning. And it is highly dubious, on just how much a side can rely on the rent-a-shabiha strategy of releasing former convicts and paying them 2000 liras a day to terrorize human rights activists. Mercenaries are never highly motivated.
October 8th, 2011, 8:44 am
Areal said:
57. Khalid Tlass said:
we must use low intensity campaign of terror, we will win eventually.
REALITY
700+ dead security people and innocent people is what you can call a PRE campaign of low intensity terror
Car Loaded with Weapons Seized in Homs, Citizen Killed by Terrorist Members
http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2011/10/01/372570.htm
MY VIEW
You are an invaluable member of this wonderful Syrian opposition.
October 8th, 2011, 8:48 am
Aboud said:
Also, a personnel note. Someone (I can’t remember who) described the commentators who spoke up for me during my ban as being my “supporters”. Not so. They are my *friends*, big difference. It would help if people tried not to interpret the whole world through the prism of picture-waving Besho mobs. Even Besho must have some friends somewhere, as shrinking as that group may be.
I am in contact with only two people from this website, but I am truly humbled by the incredible friendship alot of people have shown me here. And not a little bit smug about the fact that the menhebaks are still made uncomfortable by the mere mention of Aboud, even when I haven’t been posting anything 🙂
October 8th, 2011, 8:50 am
sheila said:
Dear Ihsani,
You said : “Saddam survived everything that was thrown at him, including a No-Fly zone”. I would like to argue that you are missing two important elements that distinguish the situation in Syria:
1- Syria neither has the massive quantities, nor the good quality of oil that Iraq has. Saddam survived on smuggling oil and selling it for very cheap. Both option are proving almost impossible for Syria.
2- Even though Saddam had several revolutions on his hand, they were limited in scope and conveniently sporadic and not simultaneous. It was the Kurds in the north or the Shiite in the south, while the Syrian regime is facing a massive uprising disrupting life in the entire country that does not seem to let down.
I agree with your analysis that the Syrian regime will not be toppled militarily, but I would like to reintroduce your previous assertion that the economy is going to be the Achilles heal. My previous two points build on that theory. The first removes the main source of income, oil, the second removes the other sources of income including commerce, industry, tourism…etc. The sanctions are going to prove much more effective on the Syrian regime than they were on the Iraqi regime. I agree that the regime will not go quickly and without putting up a fight, but time is against the regime and for the people.
October 8th, 2011, 8:56 am
Muhammad said:
Aboud
Good to have you back bro !
I read ALEX last post accusing the opposition of being in the camp of the Israelis and thought that if this is the moderator then sure enough this forum is becoming a cesspit of menhebakism rubbish. I was truly thinking of not visiting this forum any more. Now you are back I’ve already changed my mind!
We are waiting for an update from Homs as well. What do you know about Zainab story ?
In Edleb they have changed both the head of the local Ba’ath branch and the governor. They brought back old shabiha and security officers. At the moment Edleb the city is Hama before the army went in. Even Aljazeera likened the scenes there to that of al-asi square. I guess they are preparing the grounds for the army to come in though. Expect Addounia claiming armed gangs and explosive devices have been found in Edleb soon.
October 8th, 2011, 9:03 am
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
He he Aboud dear chap.. welcome back 🙂 Don’t change please. Stay the same. Don’t give the moderators here the pleasure. They are humiliating themselves with the stupid censorship, which they call “moderation”.
.
October 8th, 2011, 9:03 am
Revlon said:
Dears Ehsani and Alex,
“ Armed with a strong and cohesive army that has been able to exert full territorial control over the whole country”
Asad army is neither strong nor cohesive.
It merely controls civilian neighbourhoods and only whn and where no FSA guerrilla groups exist.
_________________________________________________________________
“This leaves foreign help. Presumably, this can mean one of three things:
– Foreign Boots on the ground.
– No Fly-Zone.
– Arming internal groups with the hope toppling the regime militarily”
I do not believe that foreign military presence on the ground to be either helpful or needed.
__________________________________________________________________
“The No-Fly zone, should it happen, would presumably involve NATO targeting and degrading Syria’s extensive surface to air anti aircraft missiles”
– Taking out air defences is needed as a first step only, in order for the NATO sorties to safely enforce the No-Fly zone, without the risk of being fired at.
– Once No Fly Zone is established , a “Regime Forces Depleted Zone” is sought by taking out the existing command and control centers and heavy weaponry.
– Upon achieving the latter, trickles of defection will gradually transform into disintegration of Asad army.
– Defecting units would have pre-set bases to defect to and reassemble into the all new, and legitimate FSA.
_________________________________________________________________
“Saddam survived everything that was thrown at him, including a No-Fly zone, for years till the foreign boots showed up. Once the latter happened, his regime simply crumbled in days”
This parallel is inappropriate.
Saddam then enjoyed unchallenged, internal political and military control over Iraq.
Asad regime, on the other is under a mortal, internal, political as well as military challenge.
The inevitable, massive army defection from the illegitimate Asad army to FSA units in the “Regime Depleted Zone” should provide the necessary boots on the ground to establish the FSA’s moral and logistical superiority.
Welcome back Aboud!
October 8th, 2011, 9:24 am
Areal said:
REALITY
We read numerous report by a western journalist of the “free” press explaining how they crossed the Syrian border with smugglers help, traveled to Homs , hid with members of opposition organizations , saw various armed protesters operating inside the town and came back to the their Western homes.
Why a mere non Arabic speaking journalist is able to do it “safely” and armed people with military background would not be able to do the same.
Some people like the professional terrorists who crossed the Syrian border to Irak to operate inside Irak against the US backed government and coming back to operate inside Syria against the non Saudi backed Syrian government.
October 8th, 2011, 9:27 am
annie said:
ABOUD is back ! Pop the champaign bottle(alcohol free of course).
My smile extends from one ear to the other.
Aboud, your guerilla approach makes a lot of sense and it looks like the better and only solution.
32. AIG does not mention guerilla but he comes to the same conclusion.(Bottom line, it is not clear at all that foreign help will be needed to beat the Syrian army.)
I had just read all the other comments and wanted to answer a few
43. uzair8 and 42. Revlon I reproduced your comments on my fb and shall do same with Aboud’s.
60. DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA; you give good answers to
@ KHLAID TLASS but IMHO he is a loss of time.
October 8th, 2011, 9:33 am
Revlon said:
من جانبها قالت وكالة الانباء السورية (سانا) ان “مجموعة ارهابية مسلحة اغتالت بعد ظهر اليوم المعارض الكردي الوطني مشعل تمو وأصابت ابنه بجروح”.
واضافت ان “سيارة سوداء مفيمة كان بداخلها أربعة مسلحين أطلقوا النار على المعارض تمو ما أدى إلى استشهاده وإصابة ابنه بجروح”.
SANA says: Assasins of Tammo emerged from a
black car with tinted galss!
Cars with tinted glass is not allowed for private use in Syria; Except for Regime mobsters and their die hard puppets and supporters.
October 8th, 2011, 9:36 am
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Dear Revlon,
I respectfully disagree with you. Your suggestions are a recipe for a civil war in Syria. Some say that a civil war is already in progress. I’m not sure.
This revolution must remain “Silmiye”. If it turns militant, the only ones who will gain from this, and have the advantages are the militant/political Islamists. They have the best skills to deal with situations like this: best organization and deployment, get weapons, recruit volunteers, raise money (SA anyone?), and mobilize their supporters with a religious zeal. Do you want the Islamists to gain this advantage?
7 months of civil Silmiye struggle is not a very long period of time. What you need is patience and endurance. This junta will crash under it’s own weight and incompetence.
.
October 8th, 2011, 9:45 am
sheila said:
Dear #42. Revlon,
You said: “Those who survived the attack need to be given absolute protection as eye witnesses”. What protection?. You have a regime that acts as the prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner. You know what is going to happen: the witnesses will either agree to go on SANA and declare the regime innocent from the murder, or they will miraculously perish.
October 8th, 2011, 9:52 am
zoo said:
SNK & Mara yah ghalba
I doubt very much that the killing of Tamo has been the work of the regime. I am sure the regime does not wants the Kurds against it. It makes it much more complicated and dangerous. They have already too much on their hand.
Most Syrian Kurds political groups believe that the toppling of the regime will open the door to an invasion by Turkey. They would prefer to compose with Bashar al Assad rather than seeing a Turkish-like government in Syria.
On the other side, the PKK does not want to topple the Syrian regime either. It prefer to use the Turkish-Syrian present antaogonism to put pressure on both government to get more autonomy to Kurds, like Iraq Kurdistan.
If Syria gives such rights to Syrian Kurds, it will trigger a domino effect in Southern Turkey, that Erdogan dreads.
In a way, the PKK and the Kurds prefering Bashar share the same goal.
Tamo, by officially joining the opposition to topple Bashar Al Assad rather then pressing for autonomy, has been seen as a traitor by the Kurdish opposing groups and by the PKK.
His eliminationn may have the following effects.
– The Kurds will press the regime to obtain the autonomy or promises for autonomy. But they will reject its toppling.
– That possibility will threaten the Turks who dread that any kind of autonomy will encourage its Kurdish population to ask for the same.
The government has a grand and delicate game to play here.
In my view it will hint and negotiate that it would grant more autonomy to the Syrian Kurd in exchange for its support against the opposition. That will get Erdogan back on the phone with Bashar Al Assad to prevent this of happening.
In my view the killing of Tamo is the work of the PKK with support from Kurdish groups opposed to the toppling of Bashar al Assad.
October 8th, 2011, 10:18 am
Revlon said:
I beleive Russia was compelled to use the veto since they could not find an authority that could pledge to salavage at least a fraction of their existing immense geopolitical and economic advantages in Syria; for the SNC, the most likely candidate to negotiate such deal was still in labour.
The announcement by Russia of the plan to hold talks with a delegation from the SNC on Tuesday indicates that the Russians now believe that the SNC has enough legitimacy to negotiate a deal with, regarding the future of their interests in post-Asad Syria.
Russia stands far better chances in minimising losses of their interests in Syria by becoming a partner in an international effort to topple the regime.
The alternative is to watch NATO and US gradually butt their interests off the Mediterranian and the incensed Syrians burn what is left.
Russia and China are urged to reassess and reverse their policies tword the Syrian revolution, represented by the SNC.
They stand to gain much of what they have lost by quickly initiating a new motion for a strong resolution from the security council, under the seventh article!
______________________________________________________________
روسيا تعلن عن وصول أول وفد للمعارضة السورية إلى موسكو الثلاثاء المقبل
2011/10/08
موسكو (د ب أ)-
http://www.sooryoon.net/?p=34932
صرح ميخائيل بوجدانوف نائب وزير الخارجية الروسي بأن روسيا تتنتظر وصول وفدين من المعارضة السورية إلى البلاد.
وأضاف في تصريحات لوكالة “إيتار – تاس” الروسية للأنباء اليوم السبت “الوفد الاول يمثل المعارضة الداخلية والثاني هو مجموعة للمعارضين في خارج سورية الذين أعلنوا في اسطنبول تأسيس ما يسمى بالمجلس الوطني السوري”.
وقال بوجدانوف إن “الاجتماع مع وفد المعارضة السورية الداخلية قد يعقد في الحادي عشر من الشهر الحالي في وزارة الخارجية الروسية إذا تمكنوا من المجئ”.
وفيما يتعلق بالمعارضة الخارجية وهم ممثلون عن المجلس الوطني السوري ، قال :”أعربنا عن استعدادنا لاستقبالهم خلال الشهر الجاري”.
وقال نائب الوزير الروسي إن زيارة وفد المعارضة الداخلية السورية ستتم عن طريق منظمة غير حكومية هي منظمة التعاون مع شعوب آسيا وأفريقيا.
واستطرد بوجدانوف أن “نهجنا يهدف لحل كل المشاكل الناشئة في سورية باجراء مفاوضات سلمية والسير على طريق إجراء حوار طبيعي بين السلطة والمعارضة مع الوضع في الاعتبار عدم استخدام أي عنف”.
وأشار بوجدانوف إلى أن “الكثير من مطالب الجماهير الشعبية في سورية مبررة، والإصلاحات قد نضجت. وحان الوقت للتحرك” ، مؤكدا على أنه “لا يمكن تحقيق الإصلاحات إلا عن طريق الحوار”.
وشدد على ضرورة “بذل قصارى الجهود لإقامة الحوار الوطني الواسع بمشاركة القوى السياسية البناءة في البلاد للحيلولة دون اندلاع حرب أهلية وحدوث عمليات مدمرة سواء كان داخل البلاد او خارجها”.
ومضى بوجدانوف :”إن سورية هي حجر الزاوية للبنية السياسية الشرق أوسطية ، ويؤثر الوضع فيها تأثيرا قويا على عدد من الجوانب الإقليمية الأخرى”.
يشار إلى أن سورية تشهد احتجاجات منذ آذار/مارس الماضي للمطالبة بإصلاحات سياسية وتنحي الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد. وتشير الأمم المتحدة إلى أن عدد النشطاء المؤيدين للديمقراطية الذين قتلوا منذ ذلك الوقت بلغ نحو 2900 قتيل.
October 8th, 2011, 10:20 am
zoo said:
AREAL #69
The 850km border is porous… anyone can pass.
October 8th, 2011, 10:21 am
sheila said:
Dear #66. Muhammad,
Can you please elaborate on the situation in Idleb?. I have a lot of family there and I am quite concerned.
October 8th, 2011, 10:27 am
Areal said:
71. Revlon said:
من جانبها قالت وكالة الانباء السورية (سانا) ان “مجموعة ارهابية مسلحة اغتالت بعد ظهر اليوم المعارض الكردي الوطني مشعل تمو وأصابت ابنه بجروح”.
واضافت ان “سيارة سوداء مفيمة كان بداخلها أربعة مسلحين أطلقوا النار على المعارض تمو ما أدى إلى استشهاده وإصابة ابنه بجروح”.
SANA says: Assasins of Tammo emerged from a
black car with tinted galss!
Cars with tinted glass is not allowed for private use in Syria; Except for Regime mobsters and their die hard puppets and supporters.
REALITY BY SANA
Nationalistic Opposition Figure Mashaal Tammo Assassinated, His Son Marcel and Companion Wounded by Armed Terrorist Group
An armed terrorist group on Friday afternoon assassinated the nationalistic opposition figure Mishaal Tammo and wounded his son Marcel and Zahida Rash Kilo.
Informed sources told SANA that four gunmen using a black car opened fire from machineguns on Tammo who was invited to lunch at a friend’s in the western district of Qamishli city accompanied by his son and Kilo.
The attack led to the martyring of Tammo immediately, while his son was injured with a gunshot to the abdomen and Kilo was shot in the foot.
People in Qamishli said the assassination of Tammo aims at undermining national unity and civil peace.
Mashaal Tammo was an agricultural engineer who entered the political arena in 1990, establishing the Kurdish Future Party in 2005 with a group of others. He was against the calls by the opposition abroad for interfering in Syria’s affairs and rejected the use of arms.
Tammo had continuously stressed the importance of national unity and comprehensive political, economic and social reforms. He left behind a wife and six son.
http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2011/10/08/374064.htm
MY VIEW
I would have expected to read that only government security people and Syrian Army military people are using arms to kill and the FSA is a comedy.
October 8th, 2011, 10:30 am
Aboud said:
Muhammad
“We are waiting for an update from Homs as well. What do you know about Zainab story ?”
The regime’s narrative is ludicrous. Zainab’s family is a very conservative one. It is IMPOSSIBLE for her to have been living all this time at a relative’s house, without that relative letting the family know where their daughter was. I mean, even in the West, does it make sense for a girl to run away from her family to another relative, who wouldn’t even have the decency to tell the girl’s family that she was safe and sound, but is a bit pissed off at mummy and daddy so she’ll be away until everyone just cools down.
Also, I was astonished by regime-Zainab’s ID card. Her ID supposedly was issued in 2009, and yet regime-Zainab’s photo looks EXACTLY like the women holding it. I don’t know about you, but when I was 19, I looked significantly different from when I was 16. I’m also amazed at regime-Zainab’s ability to keep the ID card so squeaky clean for three years.
My own card had to be replaced twice because, like over half the people I know, the inflexible plastic card got chipped and cracked over time (which is why military IDs are, more sensibly, flexible). Regime-Zainab deserves an award for the best kept piece of ID on the planet.
Now, we know for a fact that a death certificate in Zainab’s name was issued. When you try to reclaim a body from the security forces, you need *FIVE DIFFERENT SIGNATURES* from *FIVE DIFFERENT MILITARY, MEDICAL AND CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS*. So the parents had every reason to believe what they were told, that it was their daughter they were burying.
“Why a mere non Arabic speaking journalist is able to do it “safely” and armed people with military background would not be able to do the same.”
Because of the nature of the reporter’s work. His work is very low profile, he interviews people, he takes a few pictures. All he needs is a notebook and a room. He is not out and about shooting people and blowing up tanks, a much harder kind of activity to carry out, and stay hidden. Such military activity requires a much more elaborate support system, but one readily available if the insurgent operates within a highly sympathetic population.
Also, like you admitted, the reporter goes back home after a week. An armed gang might possibly sneak in and out a few times, but to keep it up over the course of seven months? You should be screaming for the head of whoever is in charge of border patrols.
Amir
“He he Aboud dear chap.. welcome back 🙂 Don’t change please.”
Well, when people whom I respect a great deal suggest that I may want to review some of my tone and language, even I have to think about their suggestions 🙂
Muhamad
“I read ALEX last post accusing the opposition of being in the camp of the Israelis”
I didn’t see that post. But alot of questions have been asked about my true identity and motives.
Now, I owe it to everyone to come clean. My real name is Emmanuel Goldstein. I am an Englishman, and a socialist, but I had a falling out with the co-founders of the party. I wrote a book called The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism, but it is quite hard to get a hold of nowadays.
Sorry if I misled anyone that I was really a Homsi, but it was the only way you guys would have accepted me. You can now indulge in a two-minute hate.
October 8th, 2011, 10:31 am
annie said:
One hour ago
Twitter Users for Syria
GREAT NEWS EVERYONE! #NOFLYZONESY IS TRENDING IN THE USA AT THE #2 SPOT! PLEASE CONTINUE TWEETING!! #SYRIA
Why don’t I share their enthusiasm ?
October 8th, 2011, 10:39 am
Areal said:
76. zoo said:
AREAL #69
The 850km border is porous… anyone can pass.
REALITY
Thanks to have reduced the size of the problem : The Syrian borders are 850 km long with Turkey ONLY ?
Where did you try to do it ? Golan ?
and then did you board a green bus to Homs ?
If it is so easy ,why all the journalists of the free press are not doing it ?
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/07/01/turkey-s-haunted-and-dangerous-syrian-border.html
“So you don’t have any problems here with ‘the Arab Spring’? They laughed sourly. “Spring? Does that mean it’s a time when everybody kills each other? What is the Arab Winter going to look like?”
October 8th, 2011, 10:55 am
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arabic/middleeast/2011/10/111008_sleh_leave_power.shtml
things just got that much harder for Assad
October 8th, 2011, 10:58 am
Revlon said:
Dear Amir,
You said: “I respectfully disagree with you. Your suggestions are a recipe for a civil war in Syria”
There is no risk for civil war!
Sectariansim as a political motive does not exist. Therefore, the risk of civil war along sectarian lines is a fallacy.
Sporadic retaliatory attacks against specific regime agents appear sectarian because the offenders have been most often from the opposit sect; however, informants from all religions and sects have been targetted.
“If it turns militant, the only ones who will gain from this, and have the advantages are the militant/political Islamists. They have the best skills to deal with situations like this: best organization and deployment, get weapons, recruit volunteers, raise money (SA anyone?), and mobilize their supporters with a religious zeal. Do you want the Islamists to gain this advantage?”
You are amongst the majority of observers who are on the outside, in addition to regime supporters anywhere, who believe in or perpetuate such a fable.
Amir: The MB presence in Syria, except in prison cells = 0
The presence of any other organised Islamic group, except in prison cells = 0
4 decades of Baathification and emergency laws have literally eradicated any form or shape of gatherings, under any ieology, let alone Islamic or MB.
Just because someone is religious and pious does not make them inherenly more ept and skillful at using arms!
The use of arms is still largley limited to units of FSA and to small number of groups of activists on the run who use it in self defence.
I actually believe that the plan that I outlined aims to preempt the inevitable rise of random or partly organised arming of civilians.
Enabling the FSA to defend them would negate the reason for civilians to take arms to defend themselves.
October 8th, 2011, 11:03 am
majedkhaldoun said:
Revlon
I support No Fly Zone, but
1) it will need justification,I do not see this justification there yet.
2) it has to be defined ,Where it is going to be?, on part of Syria or all over Syria, if it is going to cover part,which part?
3) the importance of No Fly Zone is
A) test Russian support to the Syrian regime.
B) Moral support to the opposition, and humilliation to the regime.
4) NFZ will freeze the pilots,and ,they need training to stay well ready.
5) probably the NFZ most important effect will be signifying the real resolve of the west in getting involved in this conflict
6) NFZ must be preceded and followed by massive arming of the opposition
October 8th, 2011, 11:12 am
Revlon said:
73. Hi sheila:
Dear #42. Revlon,
You said: “Those who survived the attack need to be given absolute protection as eye witnesses”.
I actually meant that they need someone’s help to seek refuge in a neighbouring country.
October 8th, 2011, 11:13 am
AIG said:
Alex,
Are you now comparing the economical difficulties Israel will face with those that Syria will face? I find it very strange. Very soon Syria will not be able to export much oil. Where will it get foreign currency? Israel is growing at about 4-5% per year. Syria’s economy is in decline.
It is impossible for the Syrian army to remain in control of all of Syria’s territory if the protests continue many months longer. As in all cases in which I was right, we will just have to wait and see. Again, Assad is not going tomorrow, but the military solution cannot work more than 6 to 24 months into the future. The cost to the Syrian economy and the wear and tear on the Syrian army will be too large to allow the regime to remain sovereign in all parts of Syria. For that, you need the consent of the governed and the Assad regime just does not have it.
October 8th, 2011, 11:19 am
Revlon said:
84. majedkhaldoun, I agree. Details need to be sorted out.
On the issue of “Where it is going to be?, on part of Syria or all over Syria, if it is going to cover part,which part?
A dual NFZ along Turkish and Jordanian and better yet a triple one by adding Iraqi border would stretch the Asad army rescouces thin.
October 8th, 2011, 11:21 am
Areal said:
79. Aboud said:
“Why a mere non Arabic speaking journalist is able to do it “safely” and armed people with military background would not be able to do the same.”
Because of the nature of the reporter’s work. His work is very low profile, he interviews people, he takes a few pictures. All he needs is a notebook and a room. He is not out and about shooting people and blowing up tanks, a much harder kind of activity to carry out, and stay hidden. Such military activity requires a much more elaborate support system, but one readily available if the insurgent operates within a highly sympathetic population.
Also, like you admitted, the reporter goes back home after a week. An armed gang might possibly sneak in and out a few times, but to keep it up over the course of seven months? You should be screaming for the head of whoever is in charge of border patrols.
REALITY
In #69 , I never admitted that the reporter goes back after ONLY a week and stay hidden , he must be embedded in terrorist operation.
But I could understand he cannot stand the HOMSI wonderland more than a week .
I shall remind you that undercover elite troops are trained to operate in HOSTILE environment for weeks , the same for Al Qaeda terrorists and for the MB which are used to intimidate the population of the quarters where they are hiding.
To my knowledge , no Syrian tank has ever been blown up by unarmed protesters.
October 8th, 2011, 11:27 am
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Dear Revlon,
I get your point.
If it’s exclusively the FSA under the political guidance and leadership of the NSC, and no other militias are fighting this junta and it’s military wing, then I can agree with you.
.
October 8th, 2011, 11:30 am
Muhammad said:
Thanks Aboud
Sheilla
Is your family in Edleb city ?
The city so far has not been entered by the army. There are daily demos. There is an unwritten agreement between the gov and a group of elders to allow demos as long as they don’t pass certain streets or attack gov buildings. Arrests still happen though. This is in contrast the countryside which has seen and still sees a lot of turbulence. cities merely 5 km from Edleb has been attacked by the army.
Early in the events regime propaganda claimed a church was burnt in Edleb which is a lie. Edleb was surrounded by the army and had snipers deployed at one time. It has however seen few casualties. I’m worried the regime has something in store for us now that we are attracting too much media attention. The replacement of the governor and head of local Ba’ath branch is similar to what happened in Hama before it was attacked.
One of the worst atrocities happened near almastomeh few kilometers to the south and early in the revolution. People said approx. 70 were killed when demonstrators from the countryside tried to enter the city. They were massacred on the road. This happened prior to the events in Jisr and most of those killed were from Jabl-Elzawih. This is why Jabl is such a restive area now.
Zaina Erhaim is from Edleb and she has made a recent visit to the city. She is a journalist and writes in Arabic. Check her out here.
http://zaina-erhaim.com/
October 8th, 2011, 11:31 am
majedkhaldoun said:
Aboud
Strange thing, my name is Emmanuel Goldstein too.
Welcome back.
October 8th, 2011, 11:32 am
Revlon said:
Aboud,
“Sorry if I misled anyone that I was really a Homsi, but it was the only way you guys would have accepted me. You can now indulge in a two-minute hate”
Chris Wild once questioned your claim to be a Syrian on the basis of your excellent idiomatic English; I am now equally impressed by your incredible awareness of/access to subtle details of life on the ground in Homs.
So what makes you so passionate about the Syrian revolution, Emmanuel Goldstein?
October 8th, 2011, 11:36 am
zoo said:
If what Abboud say is true, but who knows?
After the Gay Girl in Damascus, we have now The Jewish Boy in Homs
Welcome to the world of Syrian fantasy…
October 8th, 2011, 11:46 am
Revlon said:
SNC delegation is to lobby for freezing membership of the Syrian regime in the Arab League.
Such would hel increase the pressure on Russia to review its position in the security council.
مصدر في المعارضة: سنسعى لدى الجامعة لتجميد عضوية سورية
2011/10/08
روما ( وكالة (آكي) الإيطالية للأنباء
كشف ناشط سياسي سوري معارض أن معارضين سيباشرون تحركاً سياسياً باتجاه جامعة الدول العربية لمحاولة إقناعها بطرح فكرة تجميد عضوية سورية في الجامعة العربية بأسرع وقت ممكن، ومحاولة نيل موافقة أعضاء الجامعة حول هذا الموضوع
وقال المصدر الذي طلب عدم ذكر اسمه لوكالة (آكي) الإيطالية للأنباء “هناك تحركاً لمعارضين سوريين، ينطلق خلال أيام في أروقة الجامعة العربية ومع مسؤوليها وممثلي الدول العربية فيها، في محاولة للحصول على إجماع لتجميد عضوية سورية” من المنظومة العربية
وأضاف المصدر “الفيتو الذي استخدمه الروس يمكن أن ينهار في حال اتخاذ الجامعة مثل هذا القرار، وسترضخ روسيا للإجماع العربي الذي لا يمكن أن تزاود عليه”، على حد تقديره
وأوضح المصدر “المهمة ليست سهلة، وتقتضي التواصل مع مسؤولي الجامعة العربية، والعديد من المسؤولين العرب الآخرين، والنتائج ليست مضمونة لكن هذه المحاولة ليست محكومة بالفشل حكماً”
وطالب متظاهرون سوريون بتحرك الجامعة العربية قبل أن يطلبوا بتحرك المجتمع الدولي بعد أن أقلقهم موقف الجامعة “الحذر والمتردد”، على حد وصفهم
وكان الأمين العام لجامعة الدول العربية نبيل العربي، قد زار سورية مطلع الشهر الماضي وحمل مبادرة لتسوية الأزمة السورية اتفق عليها وزراء الخارجية العرب في اجتماعهم الطارئ بالقاهرة في الثامن والعشرين من آب/أغسطس الماضي. وأحيطت مهمته حينها بالشكوك وخاصة لجهة إمكانية نجاحها في ظل استمرار الحملات الأمنية والعسكرية ضد المحتجين السوريين، وتباعد المواقف بين النظام السوري المعارضة
وعبّر المتظاهرون السوريون وقتها عن انزعاجهم من زيارته رغم أنه جاء بمبادرة قال إنها تهدف إلى “الحد من إراقة الدماء في سورية”. ورفع المتظاهرون لافتات في عدة مدن سورية تندد بزيارته وللتنويه بأن الفرصة أمام النظام السوري “قد نفذت”، وبأن “الانتفاضة السورية لن تتوقف إلا بإسقاط النظام”. وفي نفس يوم زيارة العربي لدمشق، أعلن ناشطون عن سقوط 27 قتيلاً بين المدنيين بـ”رصاص القوات الأمنية” في عدة مدن سورية
October 8th, 2011, 11:51 am
Areal said:
FICTION
79. Aboud said:
1.The regime’s narrative is ludicrous.
2.Zainab’s family is a very conservative one. It is IMPOSSIBLE for her to have been living all this time at a relative’s house, without that relative letting the family know where their daughter was. I mean, even in the West, does it make sense for a girl to run away from her family to another relative, who wouldn’t even have the decency to tell the girl’s family that she was safe and sound, but is a bit pissed off at mummy and daddy so she’ll be away until everyone just cools down.
3. Now, we know for a fact that a death certificate in Zainab’s name was issued. When you try to reclaim a body from the security forces, you need *FIVE DIFFERENT SIGNATURES* from *FIVE DIFFERENT MILITARY, MEDICAL AND CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS*. So the parents had every reason to believe what they were told, that it was their daughter they were burying.
REALITY
1. It is Zainab’s account of events. The activists account was more than ludicrous .
2. In the West ( and in Syria ) hundreds of young people are leaving the family home when they reach the age of 18 for various reasons and don’t want their “parents” to know about their whereabouts.
3. The “parents” identified A corpse without any doubt.
Then the authorities issued a death certificate and released the corpse.
CONCLUSION
The family and relatives recognize NOW the girl on Syrian TV as Zainab without doubt
and the free press lost its credibility.
October 8th, 2011, 11:57 am
zoo said:
Sirte, the Fort Alamo of Libyan loyalists.
The Libyan ex-rebels have been promising that Sirte will fall soon. Yet they have not been able to. NATO is still ‘protecting’ the civilians by rageously showering them with bombs. After 7 months of continuous bombing, NATO shows it is a serious and military powerful organization that cares to protects civilians while hunting dictators.
Libyans face heavy resistance in Gadhafi hometown
http://news.yahoo.com/libyan-government-forces-launch-big-assault-sirte-104216769.html
SIRTE, Libya (Reuters) – Transitional Libyan government forces swept into Sirte on Saturday in one of the biggest assaults yet on Muammar Gaddafi’s hometown, but had to seek cover when they drew fire from his diehard loyalists.
Fighters with the National Transitional Council (NTC) shouted “Allahu Akbar!” or “God is greatest!” as their force of about 100 pick-up trucks mounted with heavy weapons pushed into a residential district on the southern side of Sirte.
They were forced to scramble for refuge under heavy fire from pro-Gaddafi fighters holed up in an apartment complex, a Reuters reporter on the scene reported. Two NTC fighters were killed and three wounded in the exchanges.
“There is a very vicious battle now in Sirte,” NTC chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil told reporters in the capital Tripoli, where he was meeting visiting defense ministers from Britain and Italy.
“Today our fighters are dealing with the snipers that are taking positions and hiding in the city of Sirte.”
{…}
October 8th, 2011, 11:58 am
ann said:
You never mislead me not even for a minute. Not you not even your crew of ids and/or posters on this blog.
October 8th, 2011, 11:58 am
Revlon said:
Several operations were carried out today by FSA units in Homs against the illegitimate regime forces.
حركة سوريا شباب من أجل الحرية Youth Syria For Freedom
كتيبة ضباط خالد بن الوليد – قامت بعون الله مجموعة من سرية حمص العدية التابعة لكتيبة صناعة ايرانيه BRDM ضباط خالد بن الوليد بإستهداف مدرعة نوع
بجانب مستوصف العباسية وتم والحمد لله تدميرها بالكامل
الله أكبر
21 minutes ago
حركة سوريا شباب من أجل الحرية Youth Syria For Freedom
كتيبة ضباط خالد بن الوليد – قامت بعون الله مجموعة من سرية حمص العدية التابعة لكتيبة ضباط خالد بن الوليد
بنصب كمين لباص اخضر يحمل شبيحة وعناصر امن
على طريق الكورنيش عند اشارة مدينة الملاهي القديمة بجانب مطعم أبو يوسف
و فاجئوهم الابطال بالاسلحة الرشاشة
وبإذن الله جميعهم بين قتلى وجرحى
الله أكبر الله أكبر
4 hours ago
حركة سوريا شباب من أجل الحرية Youth Syria For Freedom shared أموي مباشر – Omawi Live’s status update.
أموي مباشر – Omawi Live
أموي مباشر #syria •◄ نكرر || حمص الرستن – : عاجل : الرستن: قام الجيش السوري الحر “كتائب خالد بن الوليد”بمهاجمة مقر تابع للأمن السوري والشبيحة في نادي الرستن الرياضي في عملية مباغتة من نوعها أسموها عملية ” مشعل التمو” رداً على اغتياله ،وقاموا بقتل أكثر من /30/ عنصر أمن وشبيحة وكانت هذه العملية استجابة لأوامر الرائد عبد الرحمن الشيخ علي الذي أكد على وحدة دم الشعب السوري . ساهم بنشر الخبر وانقر مشاركة ↓↓
8 hours ago
October 8th, 2011, 12:09 pm
irritated said:
Abboud-Emmanuel-Mr Who
I am sorry, but you are burnt. Your credibility is now under zero and your ‘friends’ are stunned and speechless that you have manipulated them like toys with a despicable disrespect during months on such sensitive subjects of death, murder, tortures in their country. For you it was a game, for them life and death.
You are rendering a serious service to the pro-regime who kept on saying that the whole discourse on Syria is a machiavelic manipulation with Israel playing its role. Unfortunately you won’t get the same publicity that The Gay Girl, because you have limited yourself to SC.
I wish you get the same treatment as the hainous one you had recommended for these poor Syrian soldiers.
I spit on your face.
October 8th, 2011, 12:11 pm
Revlon said:
ANN, ZOO, and the IRRITATED one: Aboud is pulling your legs!
Check out Emmanuel Bernstein in Wikipedia!
October 8th, 2011, 12:12 pm
ann said:
*** MORE VERY SERIOUS TROUBLES FOR OUR TOOTHLESS PAPER TIGER ***
Diplomatic tensions hit Franco-Turk ties – Friday, October 7, 2011
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=turkey-to-protest-france-over-8216genocide8217-remarks-2011-10-07
Relations between Turkey and France could be headed for a new crisis after French President Nicolas Sarkozy suggested his government could pass a bill criminalizing any denial of Armenian genocide claims, drawing a swift reaction from Ankara.
Turkish Ambassador to Paris Tahsin Burcuoğlu will visit the French Foreign Ministry on Oct. 8 to lodge Ankara’s protest regarding Sarkozy’s comments, the Hürriyet Daily News has learned.
The development came on the same day the interior ministers of Turkey and France signed an important agreement on the fight against terror and organized crime, but the deal has been overshadowed by the eruption of the diplomatic crisis.
Sarkozy, who is currently on a Caucasus tour, visited Armenia on Oct. 6 and urged Turkey to “revisit its history” over the killings of hundreds of thousands Armenians during the waning days of the Ottoman Empire.
If Turkey does not recognize the genocide claims and step toward reconciliation, the French president said he would consider proposing the adoption of a law criminalizing the denial of the killings as genocide. An earlier attempt by the French government was rejected by the French Senate in 2009.
Sarkozy intimated that Turkey should make the recognition before the end of his mandate in May next year.
France should face on past, Ankara says
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu instructed Burcuoğlu to express Ankara’s feelings and opinions in a strongly worded message to his French counterpart.
Alongside the diplomatic protest, senior members of the Turkish government harshly criticized Sarkozy’s stance and urged France to confront its colonial past before giving lessons to others.
“Those who will not be able to face their own history for having carried out colonialism for centuries, for treating foreigners as second-class people, do not have the right to teach Turkey a history lesson or call for Turkey to face its history. It will be very beneficial if France confronts its own history, particularly with African nations,” Davutoğlu told reporters Oct. 7.
Turkey could face its own history, but it is also a history of Turks and Armenians living together, Davutoğlu said.
“I consider such remarks [by Sarkozy] as political opportunism, and unfortunately such political opportunism is seen in Europe whenever there is an upcoming election,” Davutoğlu said.
Turkish EU Minister Egemen Bağış also criticized Sarkozy, saying the president would do better to concern himself with extricating France from its economic crisis rather than play historian on the Armenian question. “Our mission, as politicians, is not to define the past or past events. It is to define the future,” he was quoted as saying by Anatolia news agency during a visit to Sarajevo.
‘Turkey does not belong in EU’
During his visit to Tbilisi on his tour, Sarkozy reiterated his opposition to Turkey’s accession to the European Union. “France does not see this country [Turkey] in the EU,” he said.
“Turkey has an important role in the world as it has been located in Asia Minor and is a bridge between West and East. But this role [of Turkey] does not cover the EU,” he said.
In the last leg of his Caucasus tour, Sarkozy visited Azerbaijan, a close ally of Turkey, from where he received a cold shoulder for his views on the genocide claims.
Ali Hasanov, a senior official at the Azerbaijani Presidency, said his country did not share Sarkozy’s views on the 1915 incidents, Anatolia reported.
Recalling that Turkey and Azerbaijan’s regional interests were similar, Hasanov said they hoped Sarkozy’s visit would help speed up efforts to solve the Nagorno-Karabkh dispute with Armenia.
October 8th, 2011, 12:13 pm
Areal said:
64. Aboud said:
Also, a personnel note. Someone (I can’t remember who) described the commentators who spoke up for me during my ban as being my “supporters”. Not so. They are my *friends*, big difference
REALITY
On a PERSONAL note , maybe they are your friends , but they are more likely to be on the same payroll than you.
Soon you will get the blue slip from the PERSONNEL Section.
October 8th, 2011, 12:13 pm
Pirouz said:
Some folks here think the current tempo of SyA operations is unsustainable. I disagree. The SyA is more involved in shows of strength, minor clearing and occupation duties. It is not engaged against anything remotely close to a peer military force. Coming from an Israeli, where conscripts provide a similar level of duties in the occupied territories, this is a surprising contention to make for the more professional elements of the SyA.
Psychologically, I haven’t seen anywhere near the breaking point. When I see troops deserting with their weapons and vehicles, with oversized rebel placards or insignia plastered to ’em, I’ll begin to change this assessment. But I haven’t seen this, as of yet.
You mentioned fuel as a prohibitive factor, and the cost for such. Reportedly, the Iranians are providing cash to help sustain the Syrian military in the field. And you are aware, are you not, that SyA AFVs are transported on carriers to their deployments, right? From there they take up positions, unopposed, perform their duties, then are rolled back onto the carriers, to be transported elsewhere. Low wear and tear, compared to actual mech warfare.
To be sure, the situation is challenging for the SyA, but I would question claims this current tempo is unsustainable. From the evidence available (which is scant, I admit) the protests are not drawing numbers anywhere near they did in the past. And government services are being maintained, sometimes by force but many times not by force. The big variable will be the effectiveness of the promised reforms, due in December. For sure, the SyA can hold back the dissatisfied and armed gangs until such time, I would say this is really beyond dispute.
Good post, Eshani.
October 8th, 2011, 12:17 pm
ann said:
*** FROM NEOCON CENTRAL ***
*** “RESPONSABILITY TO PROTEST” THE LATEST NEOCON DREAM INVENTION TO INVADE AND DESTROY ARAB COUNTRIES ON BEHALF OF THEIR BELOVED `israel ***
http://blogs.cfr.org/lindsay/2011/10/07/friday-file-libya-syria-and-the-responsibility-to-protect/
Above the Fold. The UN Security Council witnessed a rare double veto on Tuesday. Both Russia and China voted against a toothless resolution condemning Syria for suppressing anti-government protests. Earlier this year, of course, Moscow and Beijing abstained on the vote to impose a no-fly zone on Libya. Syria is a different matter, however. Damascus has long been a Russian customer and ally—the Russians maintain a naval base at Tartus, Syria—and China worries that ousting yet another Arab dictator might give its citizens similar ideas. Although events in Libya have little connection with Moscow’s policy in Syria, Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin nonetheless invoked them to cloak his country’s veto in virtue, ominously warning of how back in the spring “the demand for a rapid cease-fire turned into a full-fledged civil war.” It will be worth watching whether Churkin’s bait-and-switch accusation gains broader currency. Supporters of the idea of a “responsibility to protect” have to be troubled that Brazil, India, and South Africa all abstained on the Syria vote even though it had been watered down almost to nothingness. (Brazil and India abstained on the Libya vote, which did contain teeth.) So any full evaluation of the wisdom of the Libyan intervention will have to confront the question of whether it has complicated future efforts to get countries to uphold the norm of a responsibility to protect.
October 8th, 2011, 12:29 pm
irritated said:
Revlon
I don’t know if he is Mr Goldstein, Mrs Netanyahu or Suzanne Mobarak, but he is an manipulative impostor I can’t trust anymore.
October 8th, 2011, 12:32 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
As guirilla war intensify, demonstrations must get small and short in time, the shabbiha must be raided quickly,suddenly, so the demonstrators must understand they should be ready to disappear quickly,The shabbiha must suffer a lot of casualities,they must be eliminated all.and so the security forces,which I believe are not all of them willing to follow the regime orders,but those who listen to the regime must be eliminated
October 8th, 2011, 12:34 pm
ann said:
You’ll have to be a desperate al qaeda Islamist terrorist dreamer to believe aboud and his team’s propaganda.
October 8th, 2011, 12:37 pm
Revlon said:
103. Dear Pirouz, I tend agree with you that given the current level and pace of engagement, Asad army is not at risk of falling apart in the short or intermediate future.
Asad army has probably been only partly mobilised.
Units can still work in shifts and be rotated to allow for rest of personnel and service and maintainace of equipment.
Money-wise, the regime is quickly adapting by drawing on the support of/or embezzling the corrupt business associates and by demanding large sums of money for the release of detained activists.
Fuel can still be smuggled across Iraq from Iran or shipped from Iran to Syrian ports via the Suez Canal.
October 8th, 2011, 12:40 pm
sheila said:
Dear Muhammad,
Yes. I have relatives in Idleb the city. I also have relatives in Jabal Alzawieh.
Thank you for the information and the link. Zaina is a very good writer.
October 8th, 2011, 12:43 pm
sheila said:
Dear Aboud,
Welcome back. I just wanted to point out to you that you are using personnel incorrectly. You need to use personal instead. Personal friends and not personnel friends. Personnel means staff, workers or employees. Personal means individual or own. I hope this helps.
I am glad you are safe. I do not care what they say. I believe you.
October 8th, 2011, 12:48 pm
Revlon said:
The statue of Papa falls in 3amouda in the Wake of Tammo’s assasination, and with it any lingering regime hopes for Kurdish neutralisation.
عامودا- لحظة سقوط الصنم مقبور حافظ الاسد8-10-2011http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOJyzx0xixA&feature=player_embedded
October 8th, 2011, 1:04 pm
irritated said:
Sheila
“I just wanted to point out to you that you are using personnel incorrectly. You need to use personal instead”
Aren’t you surprised that Abboud-Dr No who has been relentlessly correcting just everyone on english spelling is making such a gross mispelling?
Don’t you wonder if it is really the same “Abboud” you loved that you are addressing your message to?
Go on believing in “Abboud”, he needs an audience.
October 8th, 2011, 1:13 pm
Areal said:
110. sheila said:
Dear Aboud,
Welcome back. I just wanted to point out to you that you are using personnel incorrectly. You need to use personal instead. Personal friends and not personnel friends. Personnel means staff, workers or employees. Personal means individual or own.
REALITY
A mere 30 minutes after my note
“On a PERSONAL note , maybe they are your friends , but they are more likely to be on the same payroll than you.
Soon you will get the blue slip from the PERSONNEL Section.”
and 4 hours after the original post
October 8th, 2011, 8:50 am
Sheila finally starts to understand ABOUT , the big JOKE .
October 8th, 2011, 1:15 pm
Tara said:
Aboud
Hi. Welcome back.
October 8th, 2011, 1:24 pm
zoo said:
Iran tells Turkey: change tack or face trouble
By Robin Pomeroy
TEHRAN | Sat Oct 8, 2011 10:14am EDT
TEHRAN (Reuters) – A key aide to Iran’s supreme leader said on Saturday Turkey must radically rethink its policies on Syria, the NATO missile shield and promoting Muslim secularism in the Arab world — or face trouble from its own people and neighbors.
In an interview with the semi-official Mehr news agency, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s military adviser described Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s invitation to Arab countries to adopt Turkish-style democracy as “unexpected and unimaginable.”
Turkey and Iran, the Middle East’s two major non-Arab Muslim states, are vying for influence in the Arab world as it goes through the biggest shake-up since the Ottoman Empire fell, a rivalry that has strained their previously close relations.
While cheering crowds greeted Erdogan on his recent tour of North Africa, Tehran accused him of serving U.S. interests by opposing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s crackdown on street protests and agreeing to NATO’s missile defense.
“The behavior of Turkish statesmen toward Syria and Iran is wrong and, I believe, they are acting in line with the goals of America,” Major-General Yahya Rahim-Safavi told Mehr.
“If Turkey does not distance itself from this unconventional political behavior it will have both the Turkish people turning away from it domestically and the neighboring countries of Syria, Iraq and Iran (reassessing) their political ties.”
Khamenei has dubbed the Arab uprisings an “Islamic awakening,” predicting peoples in the Middle East that have overthrown dictatorial, Western-backed regimes will follow the path Iran took after its 1979 Islamic revolution.
The uprisings have been generally secular in nature, analysts say.
Erdogan’s advocacy of secular Muslim democracy — which he extolled during his tour of Egypt, Tunisia and Libya last month — is far from the message the Islamic Republic of Iran wants spread in the region.
“I think the Turks are treading a wrong path. It might very well be that the path was set for them by the Americans,” said Rahim-Safavi.
“The Turks have so far committed a few strategic wrongs. One was Erdogan’s trip to Egypt and his presentation of the secular model there. This fact was unexpected and unimaginable since the Egyptian people are Muslims.”
While Tehran has publicly urged its close ally Syria to listen to people’s legitimate demands, Erdogan has predicted Assad will be ousted “sooner or later” and is set to impose sanctions on Damascus despite a veto on U.N. action by Russia and China.
But it is Turkey’s decision to deploy a NATO missile early warning system that has most angered Tehran, which sees this as a U.S. ploy to protect Israel from any counter-attack should the Jewish state target Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Rahim-Safavi said trade ties with Turkey — which is an importer of Iranian gas and exporter of an array of manufactured goods — would be in jeopardy if Ankara does not change tack.
“If Turkish political leaders fail to make their foreign policy and ties with Iran clear, they will run into problems. If, as they claim, they intend to raise the volume of contracts with Iran to the $20 billion mark, they will ultimately have to accommodate Iran.”
(Additional reporting by Mitra Amiri and Hashem Kalantari; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
October 8th, 2011, 1:27 pm
Sheila said:
Areal,
Wow. You are so smart.
October 8th, 2011, 1:36 pm
Tara said:
Sheila honey @ 116, you made me laugh.
October 8th, 2011, 1:39 pm
873 said:
Mina,
I dont watch Al Jazeera- never have- so dont know what “pills” issue you are talking about.
40. Son of Damascus said:
@ 873 post 38
Videos about aliens that have scenes from a Hollywood movie (independence day) juxtaposed next to the falling WTC towers is NOT something that should be taken seriously (Or anything by Bill Cooper as well, who was a wanted criminal that died in a shoot out with the sheriff department)
Closet AIPAC are you? LOLOL Cooper was wanted in the same way that any resister is “wanted” by the US govt. While the torturers, water borders, and those killing a few million -here & there- walk free and foist their “Al CIAduh is a threat to the world” conspiracy theory on the rest of us. Drin the koolaid dope, its made for the likes of you.
Better yet, do some hard research on the Bernard Eastland patents, the UN resolutions and conventions on weather warfare (going back to 1976 already) instead of using the tired “you’re all just conspiracy nuts” meme). Grow a brain. Do some investigation- and watch your back if you’re on the wrong coast.
In addition to their box cutters, those Muslim fundamentalists [terrorists] are furiously developing geo-tectonic weapons in their Afghan caves to kill us all?!! A joke if it weren’t so sick.
“Others [terrorists] are engaging even in an eco-type of terrorism whereby they can alter the climate, set off earthquakes, volcanoes remotely through the use of electromagnetic waves… So there are plenty of ingenious minds out there that are at work finding ways in which they can wreak terror upon other nations…It’s real, and that’s the reason why we have to intensify our [counterterrorism] efforts.” Secretary of Defense William Cohen, April 1997 counterterrorism conference sponsored by former Georgia Senator Sam Nunn.
October 8th, 2011, 1:41 pm
Tara said:
Zoo
Don’t you think Ayatollah understands secularism wrong? The government can secular and the people can be as religious as they want to. Where is the contradiction?
Did I tell you I also think he is shy, I one logged on his webpage to send him a link and his contact page was blank.
October 8th, 2011, 1:47 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
I again apologise to ALL , especially to Haytham, I know what I did for the past 2 days was not at all graceful, I have no right to contaminate a blog like this; but please try to understand, I have never initiated a sectarian post unilaterally. Usually I write hateful posts only in response to Islamophobic comments from ppl like SNK, SNP, ANN, PIROUZ, etc. So I would request all to request the moderators to take a hard line towards hateful posts especially Islamophobic and Zionist posts (yes, Amir) so that these things do not happen again.
Something Sheila said earlier, that she would prefer Bashar to my vision of Syria – in my viison, I have never detailed any vioence against any people, nor imrisonment or killing. I have only detailed an apartheid policy against a group of people I believe do not deserve humane treatment. My conviction is based on my experiences for the past 6 months, not my religious beliefs.
On the other hand, in Bashar’s Syria, there is relentles killing, rape, humiliation and corruption, brutality of the worst sort.
So which one do you want Sheila ?
October 8th, 2011, 1:47 pm
Ya Mara Ghalba said:
In # 55 in this thread DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA asks pro-regimers:
1. If Assad were such a reformer, why did he not entertain the idea of a multi-party polity before 2011?
This has been discussed at SyriaComment before. Assad did entertain it on and off over the years. Why didn’t he actually do it? Because he didn’t have to (that’s a non-trivial point). And because it wasn’t entirely clear what the multi-party polity would look like if he created one (it might’ve been dysfunctional in one or more ways; and doubtless he would’ve been unhappy with the whole thing if a religious conservative party won a big share of the vote). Foreign Minister Wallid al-Moallem has said recently that the regime didn’t do it because they were under pressure and distraction the foreigners accusing Syria of murdering Hariri, and other saber-rattling by foreigner powers. I don’t accept that. Presidental Adviser Bouthiana Shaaban said a few months ago that the regime would not have repealed the emergency law, and would not have introduced the reforms of this year, if it hadn’t been for protesters on the streets. The whole country knew that the protesters were unassailably right about the specific things that the regime has now agreed to change.
2. You have made it clear that you would vote for Assad in any future elections (were they to be held). What is it about his ‘manifesto’ that you find so compelling?
See below including point number (10).
3. What significant internal reforms has Assad instigated over the past ten years?
The most significant has been greater opening of the economy to the international marketplace and futher moves away from Statism and socialism. The process is far from finished and is proceeding at a pace of gradual, organic evolution, and certainly not revolution. Ehsani would like it to proceed much faster. There has been a risk that faster pace could cause tumults, dissolutions, hardships, in the economy and then more dangerously in the polity.
# 266 in the previous thread DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA asks pro-regimers: “Why do you think Assad would win a fair election?
Here’s a list of 16 grounds I have for thinking that the regime will easily win the fair parliamentary elections that are in all likelihood to take place in 2012 — fair except religious and tribal parties are banned. The list is incomplete and off the top of my head, in no particular order, some of it recycled, and I think I could expand it if I spent more time on it.
(1) The overall number of people who accepted the invitation to join anti-regime demonstrations was “small” (though no hard number is available).
(2) The educated classes did not join the anti-regime demonstrations. In every country every winning party needs substantial support from the educated classes. In Syria right now there is only one party that has such support. To illustrate, one of the two key reasons why the Muslim Brotherhood party is so much stronger in Egypt than in Syria is that it has attracted substantial support from the educated classes. You know the other key reason. During the past six months the Syrian educated classes had the opportunity to come out and complain about the latter, and they didn’t take it up.
(3) Most of the religiously conservative classes did not join the anti-regime demonstrations. Neither did the clergy; most of the Sunni clerical leadership went on record as anti-tumult and pro-civil-process. Most of the people who attended the mosque on Friday did not attend an anti-regime demonstration afterwards, not even if there was a demonstration conveniently available and on offer to them at the doorstep. Neighborhoods in Damascus with a high concentration of religiously conservative people had only small, and few, demonstrations over the six months. One of the regime’s core constituencies is people who are less religious or who have a more progressive, less doctrinaire, take on religion. So, it is a very big and important achievement that this regime has been able to maintain its support among most of the religiously conservative. Correcting myself, it is more cautious and prudent to say “the religious conservatives consented to the rule of the regime and did not rise up against the regime” instead of “the regime maintained their support…”. Alright, many of them may vote for another party in the elections. But since most of them don’t express alienation against the regime, you shouldn’t expect them to vote en masse against the regime.
(4) No representatives of agricultural or rural interests having been talking up an alternative to the Assad regime. There was very little or no movement of people from rural areas into the towns and cities to participate in demonstrations (despite some fake boasts from the fake revolutionaries to the contrary). Right now there exists no competitor to the regime for the rural vote.
(5) Once the reforms announced by Assad are completed, there will be no major disagreements between Assad and the general Opposition on the structure of the institutions of the State. On social and economic policies, major disagreements between Assad and the Opposition are confined to wings of the Opposition (such as the MB wing), not the whole Opposition. These various wings are known to have only small and slim political support in Syria. The general Opposition does not have a platform and agenda beyond the reform agenda that the Assad regime itself has declared itself in favour of implementing. That is, the anti-regime protests have not created a policy agenda or alternative forward vision that throws the regime on the defensive in the upcoming election.
(6) The demonstrators were predominantly from the poorly educated working class. Most of them did not have an agenda beyond wanting Assad to leave and wanting a breath of fresh air in the country of an unspecified kind. The great majority of the poorly educated working class did not join with them in the anti-regime demonstrations, and all those who didn’t join are likely to follow the lead of the educated classes in the elections. The educated folks will be creating and propagating the discourse of the elections contest.
(7) The various Syrian opposition parties are very weak today, their representatives are barely known or entirely unknown to the Syrian public, and I can’t see a route by which they can make themselves a whole lot stronger by election day. The attempt to unconstitutionally overthrow the regime has discredited swathes of opposition, and has increased the regime’s political support among previously neutral people who strongly desire civil process and no violence.
(8) The city Al-Bab, 50 kilometers northwest of Aleppo, is the eight largest city in Syria. The city Al-Safira, 35 kilometers southwest of Aleppo, is the tenth largest city in Syria. (Source). Those two plus Aleppo (all overwhelmingly Sunni in religion, btw) have had essentially or very nearly zero anti-regime demonstrations during this past six months. Opposition to the regime in that part of the country among the poorly educated working class is truly miniscule. Aleppo is Syria's most populous province. The regime is also very stong in Ladaqia, Tartous and Sweida provinces, and Damascus City. You can appreciate that those regional strengths can be enough to win or nearly win, even if you're not yet agreeing with a forecast of the regime winning almost everywhere.
(9) Everybody in Syria knows that the anti-regime crowd has been lying about security forces atrocities and that the regime has been telling the truth. (Foreigners don't know it, since they don't watch Syrian TV, but foreigners are irrelevant since they won't be voting). More generally, the regime has been able to use its control over Syrian mass media especially TV news to strong effect. The State-controlled TV news puts out good quality products for the most part, which enjoy good credibility with the Syrian public, and have good market penetration.
(10) The next two numbered points are interrelated but distinct. They are both aspects of the spirit of the nation and nationalism. The first is that there will be people who will be voting not so much for the Assad party as for national unity. They want unity and Assad's party is by happenstance the embodiment for it. The Assad party's manifesto is vote for national unity. A vote against Assad's party is a vote for discord and recrimination. (The Putin|Medvedev party in Russia enjoys a similar sort of status, and it also has to put up with dissidents who despise the basics and atmosphere of the unity).
(11) "Syrian society is nationalistic and the Assad regime has got a bone-crunchingly strong grip over how the nation and nationalism is defined. The definition of the nation that the Syrians are nationalistic about is the one developed and nurtured by the regime over decades. It is unchallenged and unchallengeable, and people are rallying around it at this time of stress." Nationalism sells well in national elections and no challenger can outdo the regime in selling nationalism.
(12) (a) The regime is actually in touch with the pulse of Syrian sentiment, and makes it its business to be so. (b) The regime in policymaking is non-doctrinaire, and is responsive to popular sentiment.
(13) The regime's core agenda, modernization, is supported by almost all.
(14) The trade sanctions imposed by the Europeans and Americans have alienated the Syrians, I say, and all winning parties will decry the trade sanctions in the election campaign, and candidates with endorsements from Europe or America won't have a snowball in hell's chance of getting elected, and I say more about the political effect of the trade sanctions at https://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=12429&cp=all#comment-277131
(15) Religious and tribal parties are banned in the elections. The permitted parties will be having to pretty much compete head-to-head against the regime on the regime's own territory.
(16) Syrian society is dominated by a sociologically broad Establishment that covers all geographic parts of the country, nearly all religious sects, all age groups, all professional occupations, all big private enterprises, and the State. This Establishment has had only one political party for decades. Today it shows no inclination towards internal dissent or devisiveness such as would create two parties within one Establishment (such as the Western countries have).
Footnote: I've come across many commentators who think the Assad regime has a “narrow base of political support”. E.g. Joshua Landis thinks that “Syria’s chronic failing is that it lacks a deeply shared sense of political community. This explains why such a narrow regime as that led by the Assads….” In next year’s competitive elections we are going to see who’s right and who’s wrong regarding these two radically different interpretations of the same scene.
October 8th, 2011, 2:00 pm
Mango said:
http://www.arabvoice.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=25647&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
سجون الولايات المتحده الامريكية تحوي ربع سجناء العالم اجمع ..
الرابط : الولايات المتحده الامريكية
بقلم دالميدا كانيا/وكالة انتر بريس سيرفس
واشنطن, سبتمبر (آي بي إس) – يبلغ عدد السجناء في الولايات المتحدة زهاء 2.4 مليون سجينا -ما يعادل نحو 25 في المئة من كافة السجناء في العالم- إضافة إلي أكثر من سبعة ملايين فرد يعيشون تحت “الرقابة الإصلاحية”. وتعتبر الشركات الخاصة، التي تتولي إدارة أعدادا متزايدة من السجون الأمريكية، المستفيد الأكبر من هذا الرقم، الذي تسعي لرفعه.
وعامة يقضي 13 مليون شخصا في المتوسط جانبا من حياتهم سنويا في نظام الاحتجاز الأمريكي الذي يشمل سجون الولايات، وسجون الأميركيين الأصليين، وسجون الأحداث، والسجون العسكرية والمحلية، ومراكز الاعتقال الأمريكية في الخارج، ومراكز الاحتجاز التي تديرها سلطات الهجرة والجمارك.
وحذرت إلسي سكوت رئيسة كتلة النواب السود، في مؤتمر صحفي في واشنطن في وقت سابق من هذا العام، من أن ميزانية قانون السجناء تعتبر “فلكية” إذ تقارب متوسط 68 دولارا في اليوم للسجين الواحد.
وأشارت ميشيل الكسندر في كتابها “جيم كرو الجديد: الحبس الجماعي في عصر عمي الألوان” أنه رغم إنخفاض معدلات الجريمة، فقد تضاعف عدد نزلاء السجون الامريكية خمسة أضعاف في مجرد عقدين من الزمن، بين عامي 1980 و 2010.
وإعتبرت أن هذا الوضع يبرر ضرورة الحد من معدلات السجن خاصة من منظور دافعي الضرائب وحكومات الولايات والحكومة الفدرالية.
ومع ذلك، فثمة مجموعة من الجهات ذات المصالح المالية الكبري في الإبقاء علي السجون الأمريكية مليئة كاملة بقدر الإمكان، ألا وهي الشركات الخاصة ومساهميها.
فقد أفاد تقرير صدر مؤخرا عن معهد سياسة العدالة الجنائية بأن أكبر شركتين خاصتين للسجون -الشركة الأمريكية للإصلاح و مجموعة GEO- قد حققتا عوائد سنوية مجموعها 2.9 مليار دولار في نهاية عام 2010.
ويضيف التقرير، المعنون “اللعب بالنظام”، أن عدد السجناء المحتجزين في السجون الفدرالية الخاصة قد إرتفع بنسبة 120 في المئة منذ عام 2000، في حين إزداد عدد نزلاء سجون الدولة بنسبة 33 في المئة فقط، في نفس الفترة.
وأشار إلي أنه “بينما تقدم شركات للسجون الخاصة نفسها علي أنها تلبي طلب السوق ليس إلا، إلا أنها قد عملت في الواقع جاهدة على مدى السنوات العشر الماضية من أجل إيجاد أسواق لمنتجاتها”.
وأضاف التقرير “وبما أن عائدات شركات قطاع السجون الخاصة قد نمت علي مدى العقد الماضي، فقد توفرت لها الموارد اللازمة لبناء النفوذ السياسي، وإستخدمته لتعزيز سياسات تؤدي إلى معدلات أعلى من الحبس والسجن”.
ويذكر أن شركات السجون الخاصة لا تخفي أن سر عملها يكمن في التطبيق الصارم لنظام العدالة وإصدار عقوبات قاسية علي المخالفين.
فعلي سبيل المثال، شددت شركة CCA في تقريرها السنوي لعام 2010 علي أن الطلب علي مرافق السجون وخدماتها إنما يتضرر جراء إسترخاء عمليات تنفيذ القانون والتساهل في الإدانة أو تطبيق معايير الإفراج المشروط، أو من خلال عدم تجريم بعض الأنشطة.(آي بي إس / 2011
October 8th, 2011, 2:03 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
Ghalba, your post really brightened up this dull evening for me ya know.
@ others – Please scroll to my comments at # 120
October 8th, 2011, 2:04 pm
AIG said:
Any free elections in Syria, the Assad regime will surely lose. That is because for free elections you need freedom of speech, and the moment there is freedom of speech, the extent of the regime’s atrocities will come out. People will start speaking about the thousands jailed and missing. People will demand to know what is going on in the prisons. Peopled will talk about the corruption of the regime.
Of course, the Assad regime will therefore never allow real free elections. They cannot afford freedom of speech in Syria. They are fooling nobody.
October 8th, 2011, 2:19 pm
Mango said:
Assassinations: part of Israeli psychological mind .
فقد بدأ مع ظهور الحركة الصهيونية، والوكالة اليهودية، ومع قيام دولة إسرائيل، فقد تم اغتيال اللورد موين، وهو لورد إنجليزي يهودي لأنه لم يكن يشجع هجرة يهود بريطانيا إلى فلسطين قبل قيام دولة إسرائيل، وتم اغتيال الوسيط الدولي الكونت برنادوت، في فندق الملك داوود في القدس على خلفية قوله الحقيقة في الصراع الذي تفجر في فلسطين في نهاية الأربعينات بين الفلسطينيين والحركة الصهيونية بمنظماتها الإرهابية مثل اتسل والأرجون وغيرها، بل إن التقارير التي انكشفت على امتداد العقود قد أثبتت بشكل قاطع تورط مجموعات أمنية تابعة للوكالة اليهودية في التنسيق مع الجستابو الألماني باغتيال عدد من اليهود لإثارة رعبهم ودفعهم إلى الهجرة إلى إسرائيل والتراجع عن عمليات الاندماج اليهودي الواسع في الدول الأوروبية التي كانوا يعيشون فيها، ونفس الأفعال حدثت في العراق ومصر حين تم استهداف اليهود لدفعهم إلى الهجرة، وقصة –لافون- في مصر قضية مشهورة جداً.
ومن بين الحلقات الأخطر في تاريخ الاغتيالات الإسرائيلية، استهداف علماء الذرة في مصر وفي العراق التي امتدت لعقود طويلة، ولاحقت هؤلاء العلماء وهم في بلادهم في مصر أو العراق أو ملاحقتهم في العديد من البلدان الأخرى.
أما على الصعيد الفلسطيني، فإن جرائم الاغتيال الإسرائيلية حدث ولا حرج، فلا تكاد توجد عاصمة أوروبية إلا وحدث فيها اغتيال لقادة ونشطاء فلسطينيين بارزين بما في ذلك الحالات التي تمت تحت غطاء المفاوضات الفلسطينية العربية التي ثبت فيما بعد أنها كانت مخترقة بعلم أو بدون علم من الموساد الإسرائيلي.
فجزيرة قبرص على سبيل المثال، اغتيل فيها كمال أبو الخير وأبو صفوت، كما اغتيل فيها مروان كيالي وأبو حسن قاسم والتميمي، وفي باريس تم اغتيال السفير محمود الهمشري ثم السفير الدكتور عز الدين القلق، وفي روما تم اغتيال ماجد أبو شرار ومنذر أبو غزالة، كما تمت اغتيالات لسفراء وقادة بارزين مثل سعيد حمامي في لندن، وسفراء وقادة بارزين آخرين تم اغتيالهم في أثينا، وفي فيينا، وفي بروكسل، بل إن العواصم العربية نفسها لم تسلم من تنفيذ اغتيالات إسرائيلية ضد قادة بارزين مثلما جرى في بيروت عام 1973، باغتيال أبو يوسف النجار، وكمال عدوان، وكمال ناصر، واغتيال أبو حسن سلامة في عام 1977، واغتيال خليل الوزير “أبو جهاد” في تونس العاصمة عام 1988، وهناك إيحاءات قوية بأن الموساد الإسرائيلي كان قد دخل على شبكة اغتيال أبو إياد صلاح خلف، وهايل عبد الحميد “أبو الهول”، وفخري العمري “أبو محمد” في عام 1991 في تونس العاصمة.
أما الاغتيالات الإسرائيلية لقادة ونشطاء فلسطينيين في قطاع غزة والضفة الغربية فهذه تعتبر مسلسلاً درامياً لا يكاد ينتهي، الضحايا كثيرون وبارزون جداً، والوسائل متعددة ابتداء من استخدام طائرات الf16 وصولاً للصواريخ الذكية الموجهة وانتهاءً بالطرود والعبوات الناسفة، أما اغتيال الرئيس الخالد ياسر عرفات وسط احتجازه القسري في المقاطعة في رام الله فذاك حديث آخر.
من هذا السياق الطويل والخطير والمستمر، فإن الإنسان العاقل والطبيعي ربما يصاب بالدهشة عندما يجد أن أحداً يشعر بالمفاجأة لاغتيال الشهيد محمود المبحوح، فالسياق الفلسطيني، سياق النضال الفلسطيني، والقوة الفلسطينية العظيمة، زاخر بجرائم الاغتيال الإسرائيلية، أما إذا كان البعض يبدأ من نقطة الصفر، أو يصدق رسائل الطمأنينة التي تأتي من هنا أو هناك، فهذا أمر آخر ليس من السياق الفلسطيني في شيء.
مسلسل اغتيال العلماء في العراق
بغداد ـ أسامة كامل ـ المسلم | 16/1/1425 هـ
يتواصل مسلسل اغتيال العلماء والأكاديميين العراقيين، إذ تعرضوا خلال الأشهر القليلة الماضية إلى عمليات اغتيال، أو محاولات اغتيال أدت إلى إصابة بعضهم بجروح خطيرة، وقد تم مؤخرا اغتيال الدكتور/ شاكر الجنابي (رئيس جهاز التقييس والسيطرة النوعية) أمام بيته في بغداد، في ظل ظروف انعدام الأمن وشيوع الفوضى والتناحر العرقي والطائفي التي تسود العراق..
ويشير العديد من المحللين السياسيين بأصابع الاتهام إلى ” الموساد ” الإسرائيلي الذي يتولى ملف هؤلاء العلماء، ويقود حملة لاجتثاثهم أو تهجيرهم او اغتيالهم خشية أن يهاجروا إلى دول عربية أو إسلامية، مؤكدين أن ذلك المخطط الإجرامي أصبح أمراً معروفاً ومكشوفاً،وقد أشارت له الكثير من وسائل الإعلام الغربية.
الرعب في الجامعات:
ونتيجة لتصاعد عمليات القتل تملك الخوف والرعب بعض الأساتذة بالرغم من أنه لم يتم إثبات أي علاقة بين هذه الاغتيالات ووظائفهم.
وبحسب مصادر إعلامية فإن العشرات من العلماء والكفاءات العلمية العراقية بدؤوا بالفعل بمغادرة بلادهم للنفاذ بجلدهم من التصفيات الجسدية التي تنفذ أحياناً لأسباب تتعلق بوجهات النظر والآراء السياسية، فضلاً عن أسباب أخرى تتعلق بتدني أجورهم التي يقولون: إنها لا تتناسب مع شهاداتهم العلمية ولا مع الظروف المعيشية.
وكان أساتذة جامعتي البصرة وبغداد قد أعلنوا مؤخراً إضراباً محدوداً عن العمل لهذه الأسباب، كما نظموا عدداً من المسيرات والتظاهرات الاحتجاجية على تلك الاغتيالات، وطالبوا مجلس الحكم بملاحقة المنفذين.
وقال أسامة عبد المجيد (رئيس دائرة البحوث والتطوير في وزارة التعليم العالي العراقية في تصريح نشرته صحيفة (السبيل) الأردنية الأسبوعية الصادرة قبل أيام:”إن 15500 عالماً وباحثاً وأستاذاً جامعياً عراقياً فصلوا من عملهم في إطار الحملة الإسرائيلية”.
ومن جهة أخرى اتهم (الأمين العام للرابطة الوطنية لأكاديمي ومثقفي العراق) هاني إلياس “الموساد” الإسرائيلي بالوقوف وراء اغتيالات العلماء والمثقفين العراقيين.
وقال: إن معظم الضحايا لم يكونوا محسوبين على النظام العراقي السابق مما يجعل أسباب تصفيتهم ترتبط بمخطط يهدف إلى تحطيم مؤسسات العراق الوليدة مشيراً إلى أن “القتلى هم من الأطباء والمهندسين وأساتذة الجامعات والقضاة والمحامين، وهو ما يعزز القناعة بأن الهدف من وراء الاغتيال هو قتل الخلايا النوعية في جسد المجتمع العراقي لمنعه من النمو والتطور”.
الموساد هو المسؤول:
وتتحدث الأوساط الجامعية والعلمية العراقية عن فريق اغتيالات مرتبط بجهاز الاستخبارات الخارجي الإسرائيلي “الموساد”، وقد حمل هذا الفريق اسم “الجيش الجمهوري السري، وقال: إن معظم العلماء والمثقفين وأساتذة الجامعات الذين تم اغتيالهم تمت تصفيتهم في إطار يخرج عن الانتقام الثأري أو تصفية الحسابات.
وقد أجملت سلطات التحالف عدد الذين تمت تصفيتهم في العراق عن طريق الاغتيالات منذ مطلع أيار الماضي بـ1000 مواطن عراقي غالبيتهم من النخبة، فيما قال مسؤول عراقي آخر رفض الكشف عن هويته: ” إن سياسة فصل العلماء العراقيين من وظائفهم وضعت في تل أبيب بهدف الاقتصاص من منفذي برامج العراق العلمية”.
وأكدت أوساط عراقية مطلعة في بغداد أن الموساد الإسرائيلي طلب من المخابرات الأمريكية ترك ملف العلماء العراقيين برمته إلى عملاء الموساد في العراق، مشيرين إلى أن الموساد يريد تهجير هؤلاء العلماء أو اغتيالهم إذا رفضوا التعامل معه.
وكشف (الناطق باسم قوات التحالف) الجنرال مارك كيميت أن حملة واسعة من الاغتيالات استهدفت من وصفهم بـ”ذوي الياقات البيضاء” من الطبقة المتعلمة، وقد نفذتها أيد مجهولة.
صدمة حقيقية:
وأوضح الأستاذ أحمد الراوي (مدير مركز البحوث العربية) الذي قتل أحد أساتذته البارزين في 19 كانون الثاني/يناير “منذ ثمانية أشهر فقدت هذه الجامعة العديد من الأساتذة. وأطلقت على عبد اللطيف المياحي 30 رصاصة حينما كان بصدد مغادرة منزله.
وأضاف الراوي : كان المياحي يحظى بسمعة كبيرة ومحبوباً من طلبته، وكان عضواً في حزب البعث بيد أنه انسحب منذ أكثر من 15 سنة، وجاء مقتله بعد يوم واحد من ظهوره على شاشة إحدى الفضائيات العربية.
وتابع الراوي : إنها صدمة حقيقية ولا نملك أي خيط يدل على الفاعلين، ومهما يكن من أمر فإن الاتهامات والإشاعات خلقت أجواء متوترة في الحرم الجامعي،
وشهدت جامعة المستنصرية مثل باقي جامعات العراق إثر الإطاحة بنظام صدام حسين عملية تطهير، وتم استبعاد كبار المسؤولين البعثيين، كما تم التنديد رسمياً بممارسات النظام السابقة، إلا أن الأساتذة فيها يجمعون على أن هذه الاغتيالات ليست من فعل العراقيين، وإنما هي جرائم تقف خلفها أجهزة المخابرات الإسرائيلية ” الموساد ” الذين ينتشرون اليوم في العراق بصورة مكثفة غير مسبوقة،وتحت عشرات الأسماء والعناوين.
الدكتور/ خالد السحار (نائب عميد الكلية العلمية)، قال : “نعيش وقتاً بالغ الاضطراب يعكس الفوضى التي غرقت فيها البلاد. يفترض أن تظل الجامعة بمنأى عن التوتر السياسي والديني غير أن الوضع ليس كذلك للأسف”.
تصفية حسابات:
ويضيف نائب العميد الذي يصف نفسه بأنه “مستقل نجح في تفادي كافة العثرات في العهد السابق” أن “الوضع تقريباً تحت السيطرة بيد أن التوتر لا يزال قائماً. لدينا هنا كل التيارات: أنصار الولايات المتحدة والمتعاطفون مع النظام السابق، والذين ينتظرون جلاء الوضع، وأضاف أن المشاحنات السياسية أو الدينية يمكن أن تستخدم ذريعة لتصفية حسابات شخصية.
وقال محمد الجوران (رئيس نقابة الطلبة المستقلين) التي أنشئت بعد الإطاحة بنظام صدام حسين: “إن عمليات القتل هذه تعد مواضيع حساسة”، وأشار إلى أول أستاذ قتل أمام الجامعة في 10 أيار/مايو، وقال: “كان معروفاً بقناعاته البعثية وبقسوته الشديدة مع الطلاب” في حين نفت أرملته أن يكون متورطاً في قضايا سياسية أو عشائرية”.
ويقول أستاذ طلب عدم كشف هويته ،أكد أنه تلقى مؤخراً ظرف تهديد يحتوي على رصاصة الحياة لا تساوي الشيء الكثير حالياً في العراق، وأحمل هذه التهديدات على محمل الجدية الكاملة وأنا واثق أن إسرائيل وعملاء الموساد هم الذين يقفون وراء ذلك.
مجرد أقاويل:
ومن جهة أخرى وصف (وزير العلوم والتكنولوجيا العراقي) رشاد مندان عمر ما تردد عن هجرة العلماء والأكاديميين العراقيين إلى الخارج بأنها مجرد أقاويل.
وأشار في تصريح له نشر مؤخراً إلى أن وزارته” ترعي العلماء وتعطي لهم الأهمية وتوفر الجو الديمقراطي للحوار معهم ؛لأنهم ثروة البلد الوطنية، مؤكداً أن العلماء العراقيين متفائلون بمستقبل العراق، ويبحثون عن فرصة ليساهموا في بناء العراق الجديد.
وطالبت الشبكة العراقية لثقافة حقوق الإنسان والتنمية بملاحقة قتلة الأكاديميين والعلماء العراقيين وتقديمهم إلى العدالة.
وقد أحدث اغتيال المياح هزة عنيفة في الوسط الجامعي، حيث اعترف الكثير من الأكاديميين في تصريحات صحفية أنهم باتوا يشعرون بأنهم جميعاً مستهدفون وأنهم سيفكرون من الآن فصاعداً ألف مرة قبل أن يعلنوا عبر وسائل الإعلام عن وجهات نظرهم الصريحة إزاء مستقبل الوضع السياسي في العراق
October 8th, 2011, 2:33 pm
zoo said:
Tara #119
I have many reservations about Iran’ system of Vilayat Vaqeeh, so I don’t necessarily agree with many of Ayatollah Khamenei’s views on the application of a similar religious system in countries with different history, culture and ethnic-religious composition.
Yet, I doubt Khamenei has in mind to have Al Azhar clerics in Egypt ruling the country. I just think these are just words aimed at deflating the influence Sunni Turkey is trying to have in the Arab world, that could stir dissidence in Iran.
As for Iranians, they have always had authoritarian regimes. They never tasted full freedom of expression in their country.
The Pahlavi ruled ruthlessly Iran for more than 50 years, trying to make it secular by force. As a result they got the Islamic revolution because the average Iranian, (like many average moslems in arab countries) who are fundamentally religious and practising rejected the excessive liberalization US made that the Shah was trying to impose.
The Islamic republic is 32 years old and the country has achieved much more in education (eradication of analphabetism), scientific, artistic, self-sufficiency and military progress than during the Pahlavis or the previous Shah. In other areas, there are no success stories, unfortunately.
I think Iranians need more time to invent a system that suits them all. There are a lot of debates in Iran about that. Yet, while progressing slowly, the system is still holding on to its basic tenets.
One the reason is the short-sighted US’s foreign policies in the region that does not seem to change at all in 33 years!
Imagining that old countries can just change into a perfect system, with the snap of a finger because Hillary Clinton or Cameron or Sarkozy think so, is a fallacy.
October 8th, 2011, 2:36 pm
zoo said:
#121. Ya Mara Ghalba
Excellent analysis, thank you
October 8th, 2011, 2:44 pm
Dale Andersen said:
Welcome back, Aboud. We missed your revolutionary fervor around here. Even the regime suckups (The Ann Club) missed you.
I need an address from you so I can ship you an elephant gun and an RPG. I picked them up at a gun sale in Michigan.
I filed off the serial numbers…
October 8th, 2011, 3:08 pm
uzair8 said:
Welcome back Aboud.
I was going to say it was ‘business as usual’ and ‘lol @ the Menhabeks’ but kind gentleman Revlon put them out of their misery (lol). 😉
October 8th, 2011, 3:10 pm
Dale Andersen said:
Memo To: ZOO
RE: “…eradication of analphabetism…”
Is that word derived from anal?
October 8th, 2011, 3:11 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
(3) : تحقيق موسع عما يجري في حمص التي يريد النظام اغتيالها بالطائفية ؟؟
بواسطة
admin2
– 2011/10/08نشر فى: غير مصنف
مراسل المحليات : كلنا شركاء
http://all4syria.info/web/archives/31171
تحقيقنا هذا قاس جدا ..وصادم ..ولم نكن لنخوض فيه لولا المصاب ..فحمص صاحبة أقدم كنيسة – أم الزنار – حمص أبو عبيدة وخالد والاتاسي..
حمص التي قهرت كل من أراد شرا بها وبفسيفسائها من كل الطوائف المتحابة ..يراد لها الآن أن تموت ..بيد الطائفية ..
لكنها ما كانت ولن تكون إلا حمص التي كل الدروب تؤدي إليها ..
صباح يوم الثلاثاء 4/10/2011 الزهراء تغلي عن بكرة أبيها ..تجمع يكبر في ساحتها ..أنباء عن اختطاف قريبة برهان غليون في جب الجندلي الحي الذي أغلبه من الطائفة السنية الكريمة والقريب جدا من الزهراء الحي الذي يقطنه الأغلب من الطائفة العلوية الكريمة ..وانتشار بيان ينسب إلى الثورة عن تهديدهم باختطاف فتيات مقابل إرجاعها ..
الدعايات تكبر عن اختطاف أكثر من سرفيس على الخط البارحة ..والمختطفون ينزلون المحجبات منه ويتركون بداخله غير المحجبات ..ويذهبون بالسرفيس إلى جهة غير معروفة ..
أحدهم يتقدم بمعلومة مهمة من شبكة أخبار حمص عن أن هناك نفق تحت جامع الرفاعي يؤدي إلى بيت في حارة ثانية حيث تختطف البنات وتغتصب ..
يسكته آخر وهو يسب عمار إسماعيل وجيشه الالكتروني ..: كل هالبلاوي اجتنا من شبكاتهم وجيشهم الالكتروني مو شاطرين غير بالكذب والعلاك ولاد ؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟
يتدخل آخر ويطلب منهم الانتظار لعودة الشباب الذين ذهبوا للقاء المحافظ .. فالدولة لن تكون راضية بهذا التسيب ..وهم سيأخذون حقنا ..ويعيدون الأمن لنا ..
يتدخل آخر ..وهو يسخر : لك يا محلى إياد غزال قدام هدا المحافظ .. صحيح كان فاسد ..بس ما كان طرطور متل هدا المحافظ وكان بعرف يخرس و يضب الأمن والفروع الأمنية ..
بعد قليل .. يجتمع سائقوا الباصات الصغيرة التي تعمل على خط الزهراء وما حولها (الزهراء والعباسية والسبيل والمهاجرين والأرمن والإسكان العسكري ) التي تجمع الطائفة العلوية الكريمة والإخوة المسيحيين .. ويقررون الإضراب عن النقل حتى تحل المشكلة الأمنية ..
يعود عدد من الشباب الذي كان عند المحافظ بوجوه مكفهرة ..
وينقلون لهم عدم اهتمام المحافظ بالموضوع واستخفافه بطلباتهم ..
قاللنا : شو أنا ماني فاضي غير لبناتكن ؟؟ بدكن بناتكن روحوا جيبوها من اللي خطفوهن ؟؟ الدولة عندها مشاكل اكبر من هيك ..يقولها أحد الشباب نقلا عن لسان المحافظ ..
دقائق وتنتشر القصة ..يجتمع أغلب رجال الحي في الساحة ..مسلحين بأسلحتهم الفردية ..
تنتشر قصة اختطاف جديدة ..باص آخر فيه معلمتان من الحي قد خطف البارحة .. وأنهم اغتصبوا المعلمتين ..
الساعة الرابعة عصرا .. التأزم في قمته ..أكثر من خطة للهجوم على الأحياء الأخرى تطرح ..
يصل الشيخ :أحمد حسن وهو أحد موقعي البيان المشهور في التبرؤ من أفعال النظام ..
يخاطب الجمع طالبا الهدوء .. : إنكم تفعلون ما يريده النظام ..يريدكم أن تقاتلوا إخوتكم وهو يتفرج ..
أنا سأدخل بيتي ولن أرفع سلاحا في وجه أحد ..أنا اعرف خصمي ..وليعتقلوني ..من يقف وراء هذه الأعمال هو الأمن سواء بتخطيطه أو بسكوته .. والأحياء الأخرى مثلنا مكلومة ببناتها وشبابها …؟
لا يكاد ينتهي من كلامه حتى تظهر أخبار جديدة ..
المختطفون الخمسة عشر عادوا بعملية كبيرة للجيش كما كتبت شبكة أخبار حمص ..وبينهم المعلمتان ..وقد أنكرتا كل ما قيل عن الاغتصاب والتعذيب ..
إحداهما قالت إن من اختطفهم لهم بنات مخطوفة ولم يؤذوهم أبدا وأخبروها أنهم ليس لهم مشكلة معها أو مع غيرها لكنها الوسيلة التي أجبروا عليها لاستعادة بناتهم …
يهدأ الحي وينفض الجمع وراء الشيخ إلى بيوتهم ..
ويمضي نهار مرعب آخر ..
هذه الحادثة التي ذكرناها بكل تفاصيلها ..تحدث كل يوم بأغلب أحياء حمص ..ومن كل الطوائف …ولا أحد حتى اللحظة يحدد من المجرم ومن القاتل ومن الذي يخطف ويغتصب ؟؟؟
فهل هذه حمص ؟؟
قبل أكثر من خمس سنوات كتب الطالب في جامعة حمص وأحد شبابها المعارضين حاليا ً .. مراسل قناة الدنيا السابق في حمص وابن الزهراء وأحد الموقعين على بيان التبرؤ من أفعال النظام من الطائفة العلوية الكريمة – الشاب :يامن حسين – كتب المقالة الشهيرة ( إذا كنت بوذيا .. فلا تقترب من جامعة البعث )
http://www.ahewar.org/debat/show.art.asp?aid=56902
والتي كلفته رسوب سنة في الجامعة وتحقيقا أمنيا فظيعا .. يحذر فيها من طائفية مقيتة يرعاها النظام في جامعة حمص وتبدو بوادرها في كافتريات الجامعة العتيدة ..
قبلها بسنوات منعت كتب عديدة لشيخ كبير من مشايخ العلوية في حمص من الحيدريين ..وهم الغالبية من الطائفة العلوية بحمص .-والفرق بينهم وبين علويي الساحل الذين يدعون بالكلاذيين الذين يعتقدون بأن عليا كرم وجهه يظهر في الشمس بينما الحيدريون يرون أنه يظهر في القمر هذا الشيخ هو الشيخ :أحمد حيدر ..وأهم كتبه كتاب مشهور له اسمه _ ما وراء القمر – هذا الشيخ من كبار مشايخ العلويين الحيدريين في سوريا وهو من المواخسة … وهو عم اللواء المغضوب عليه من حافظ أسد – علي حيدر – بعد أن كان من أساسيي مذبحة حماة .. وهذه الأبحاث الدينية من الجرائم التي يمنعها النظام ..ويحاصر من يذكرها ..
هذا بعض من محاصرة النظام لحمص طائفيا .. قبل الأحداث وهو الآن يعيد استثمارها كما يخاف الكثير من الطائفة الكريمة بحمص اليوم .. كما يذكر البعض من أهل حمص بصمت ..وخوف ..
وهو بذلك يصل غالى أن يضرب عصفورين بحجر واحد ..احدهما ضد من يحاول أن يجعلهم منافسين له في الطائفة الواحدة وثانيها ضد معارضيه من الطوائف الأخرى ..
ولذلك كانت أول الجرائم في أحد الأحياء العلوية الحيدرية قبل خمس أشهر .. حين قتل أحد ضباطها هو وأولاده بطريقة بشعة جدا ..دون أن يكون له أي خصومة مع المعارضين أو الموالين للنظام .. هذا الحدث كان قبل اعتصام الساعة بحمص بيوم واحد .. وقد روجت شبكات النظام له بطريقة طائفية سيئة جدا ..كان لها الدور الأكبر في احتقان أهل هذه الأحياء ومحاولات الانتقام ..
هذه اللعبة لم يلعبها النظام عند العلويين فقط ..
بل لعبها عند السنة أيضا ..فرغم ادعائه قربه من التيار الصوفي ودعمه له لأنه تيار البوطي وحسون والتيار الذي يقف في وجه المد السلفي أو الوهابية كما يدعي النظام .. بل إن مشايخ هذا التيار كانوا من الحاضرين في زيارة وزير الأوقاف المشهورة الى حمص بعد دخول الجيش إلى درعا حيث طلب من المشايخ دعم المشروع الإصلاحي للرئيس وطلب منهم تهدئة النفوس والتحاور مع المتمردين الذين سماهم المغرر بهم من الذين تديرهم السعودية والعرعور وأنهم يريدون نشر الوهابية في حمص .. وصارت المواقع المعروفة للنظام تروج لإمارة سلفية بحمص ..وعن أمير سلفي لديه مروحية وله اتصالات مع ضباط كبار بإسرائيل ..ويخطف النساء ويتزوجهن ..
وحين صدقه هؤلاء المشايخ وعلى رأسهم الشيخ الصوفي المعروف : أسعد الكحيل شيخ الطريقة الرفاعية بحمص واحد المقربين من أحمد حسون ووزير الأوقاف والذي سمح له النظام بالترويج لقناة الصوفية ولحفلات إنشادية عامة بحمص ..على عكس محرمات قوانين البلاد التي كانت معروفة منذ الثمانينات ..
بدأ أعوان النظام يروجون الشائعات عن اسعد الكحيل وأنه مخبر للأمن ..بعد أن صارت فيديوهاته تملأ مواقع الثورة وهو يشارك في اعتصامات المعارضة بحمص ..ولم يصدقهم الكثير ..فاضطروا ليمنعوه هو وعدد من مشايخ حمص مثل الشيخ الدالاتي المشاركين في المظاهرات من الخطابة .. ولم ينفذوا هذا القرار الذي أصدره مدير أوقاف حمص ..ليعتقلوا الشيخ الكحيل في 20/8/2011 …
يحدثنا أحد كبار العاملين في مشفى حمص .. لدينا اليوم 4/10/2011 أكثر من سبعين جثة في المشرحة ..ثلاثون منها غير واضحة المعالم .. لأنها مشوهة ومقطعة ..
نسأله بصدق من يفعل ذلك ..
يجيب بحذر وخوف:..هذه لا يفعلها أناس أصحاء ..بصراحة ليسوا المتظاهرين ولا الجيش …لا يمكن أن يفعلها إنسان صحيح ..
يتهرب من الجواب ..
نلح عليه أكثر يحدثنا عن مدمني أنواع محددة من حبوب الهلوسة .. يمكن أن تظهر لديهم هكذا حالات .. مثل الشخصية المناهضة للمجتمع.. يقول :إن علماء النفس يطلقون مصطلح الأمراض النفسية والاجتماعية على جميع الحالات التي تتضمن القيام بسلوكيات تخالف نظم المجتمع وقوانينه والتي تنطوي على خلل في البناء النفسي للشخص ومن أهم سمات هذه الشخصية الضعف في الحس الأخلاقي والنضج الانفعالي ..و الفئة التي تقوم وتمارس هذه السلوكيات تتسم بعدم الاتزان الانفعالي وعدم الالتزام بنظم المجتمع وقوانينه إضافة إلى وجود مجموعة من الصراعات النفسية وآليات الدفاع التي تعتبر ديناميكية حركية في شخصها وتشمل هذه الحالات الإجرام والإدمان والسرقة والتخريب والاغتصاب وجميعها تنضوي على سلوك لا اجتماعي كما تصنف على أنها أمراض نفسية اجتماعية معتبرا أن من يقوم بعمل إجرامي أو تخريب أو تمثيل بالجثة هو شخص عدواني ومجرم وحين يقوم بالجرم فانه لا يتأثر من الناحية النفسية كون الأنا الأعلى التي تمثل الضمير والوجدان الأخلاقي لديه ضعيفة.
نسأله من تتهم ..
يحدثنا عن الكثير من الذين راجعوه في عيادته الخاصة من أهالي المدمنين للمخدرات ومروجيها الذين خرجوا بالعفوين الذين أصدرهما الرئيس .. حيث كانوا مرعوبين من تصرفات أبنائهم ..وماذا يتصرفون بعد أن بلاهم الرئيس بإخراج مدمن من السجن ..يحاول ضرب أمه واغتصاب إخوته تحت تأثير الإدمان ؟؟
ويحدثنا بخوف وهو يهمس خشية أن يسمعه أحد عن أن أكثر من امرأة من أمهات هؤلاء حدثته أن ولدها تغيرت أحواله بعد خروجه من السجن وصار يأتي بالمال ..ويحدثهم أنه يعرف كبار ضباط البلد وأنهم يجلسون في مزارع قريبة من حمص ..وظيفتهم قمع المظاهرات ..واختطاف أولاد بعض الميسورين وابتزازهم ..
وأنهم لا يقفون في أي حاجز لأن كلمة السر العملياتية توزع على زعمائهم ..
يضيف ربما يكون ما قالته المرأة مبالغ فيه وربما يكون صحيحا ..وربما أنهم صاروا يعملون لحسابهم الخاص في جماعات وظيفتها الخطف والسرقة وابتزاز الناس .. وحوادث الاغتصاب التي صارت طبيعية جدا في هكذا أجواء ..
ثم يضيف ..هناك أحياء معروف أنها للبدو الذين يعملون بتجارة الحبوب المخدرة وهي أحياء كانت الدولة لا تستطيع دخولها في عز هيبتها ..فكيف الآن ..؟؟
ويؤكد أنه هذه العصابات لها دور كبير بين الشبيحة الآن .. وهم يعملون لمن يدفع أكثر ..ولو لم تكن الدولة ستستفيد من خدماتهم لما أخرجتهم من السجن بعد أن اعتقلت معظمهم قبل الأحداث في أكبر عملية أمنية في حمص ..؟؟؟
و يحدثنا فنان مشهور وصاحب فعالية ثقافية في حمص :
الوضع الاجتماعي عموما سيء للغاية والتوتر الطائفي خصوصا بين العلويين والسنة .. عمليات الاختطاف والاغتيال باتت خبرا عاديا منذ أسبوعين .. أن تجد جثثا في شوارع الأحياء المتوترة صباح كل يوم وبمعدل عشرة جثث أيضا بات خبرا عاديا..
الأحياء المتوترة في المدينة : باب السباع وتجاورها المريجة وباب الدريب والقلعة وسوق الحشيش .. الخالدية وتجاورها البياضة ثم دير بعلبة .. بابا عمرو وتجاورها الانشاءات .. الغوطة وتجاورها الوعر
وهذه الأحياء بمجموعها تشكل ثلثي المدينة ديموغفرافيا على الأقل..
المدينة تعيش حياة شبه طبيعية من التاسعة صباحا وحتى الثالثة ظهرا .. مع عدم دخول لسكان المناطق العلوية إلى الأحياء السنية وحذر سكان المناطق السنية من دخول الأحياء العلوية .. الأحياء ذات الأكثرية المسيحية بسبب توضعها الجغرافي بين الطائفتين المتصارعتين تلتزم الحياد والحذر وتحاول حتى الآن عدم الدخول في اللعبة الطائفية رغم محاولات زجها بها واغتيال البعض منها … آسف لتركيزي على المشكل الطائفي ولكني أنقل لك الواقع..
المدارس في الأحياء المتوترة تداوم بنسبة الثلث فقط … الأهالي نقلو أولادهم إلى مناطقهم وإلى مدارس الريف الذي يعود أصلهم له .. المصانع الخاصة ومنشآت مدينة حسياء الصناعية سرحت ثلثي عمالها .. الصيدليات والعيادات ومحلات الأكل تفتح حتى السادسة مساء على الأكثر .. القمامة تملأ الأحياء المتوترة ولا وجود للبلدية التي تقوم بواجبها في أحياء : عكرمة .. الحضارة .. وسط المدينة .. كذلك الاتصالات يتم قطعها من وقت لآخر في الأحياء المتوترة وأنا أسميها المعاقبة … الحواجز تفصل بين أحياء المدينة وعلى مداخلها السبعة وأولويتها تفريق المظاهرات وعدم تلاقيها لذلك تجد كل حي يتظاهر ضمن الحي ومساء … التأفف بات واضحا بين مختلف فئات الشعب..
المناطق المتوترة في المحافظة وحسب الأكثر توترا : الرستن حوالي ستون ألف .. تلبيسة حوالي أربعون ألف مواطن .. تلكلخ حوالي خمسون ألف .. الحولة تجمع قرى( تلدو وكفرلاها وتلدهب وعقرب ) حوالي المئة وثلاثين ألف مواطن .. منطقة القصير والقرى التابعة حوالي المئة ألف .. تدمر حوالي السبعون ألف .. منطقة المخرم حوالي السبعون ألف .. وهي جميعها ذات أغلبية سنية..
الزهراء هو حي ذو أغلبية علوية وهو الحي الذي قتل فيه الضابط وولده ومثل بحثتههم في اليوم السابق لاعتصام الساعة منذ خمسة أشهر .. وقام مجموعة من شبابه بمبادرة وأصدروا بيان عن الطائفة العلوية وعدم تبنيها لأعمال النظام ومنهم ( يامن الحسين ) مراسل الدنيا السابق بحمص وهو صديق فارس الحلو .. والشيخ : احمد حسن هو من مشايخ الطائفة العلوية وخطب في أهالي الحي ناصحا بعدم تبني أفعال وعدم الانجرار إلى اللعبة الطائفية..
لا دليل قاطع على أن من يقوم بعمليات الخطف أو الاغتيال أو التخريب والسلب هم هؤلاء المشمولين بالعفو أو الشبيحة أو الأمن .. لكن الأكيد أن الجيش لا يقوم بذلك ولا المتظاهرين ويوجد عناصر غريبة عن المدينة من لا أعرف !.. ربما الثلاثة معا .. بالنسبة للمحافظ فلا شيء بيده عمليا تم تعيينه ليسترضي الخواطر .. ولو بقي سابقه لكان وضع المدينة أفضل لأنه رغم جميع عيوبه كان صاحب قرار ولا يحب الدم ولا يأتمر لرؤساء الفروع
الخلاصة : حمص على حافة انفجار كبير قادم ..
فمن ينقذ حمص قبل أن تغرق ؟؟؟
October 8th, 2011, 3:12 pm
Atheist Syrian Salafist Against Dictatorships (ASSAD) said:
I can’t believe how you guys have fallen for K. Tlass’ BS! The guy is pulling your leg, having you on, taking the piss…whatever you want to call it. And if he was for real, then hell no, we would most definitely NOT be better off with Assad & his mafia in place; we WILL HAVE our change and democracy and will put LAWS in place to deal with people like KT.
But this KT chatter has forced me to digress. I would like to discuss with the other liberals on this blog the differences between the so-called internal opposition and the SNC. Does anyone know when this newest internal opposition grouping هيئة التنسيق الوطني come into being? How come they went out of their way to insert the word ‘co-ordination’ in their name? It sure looks like an attempt to sow confusion in the minds of the public to make them think they are part of لجان التنسيق المحلي who are the real revolutionaries and who have used that name the very start of organized protests (around April).
I understand that the main sticking point that keeps this group from accepting/joining the SNC is the request for non-military intervention. But without international pressure I have not heard any details of how this “internal” opposition group is going to achieve change, given that they also reject dialog with and “reform” of the existing regime.
http://www.syria-news.com/readnews.php?sy_seq=138250
Good to have Aboud back and I look forward to hearing Homs news from him.
October 8th, 2011, 3:12 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
132. Atheist Syrian Salafist Against Dictatorships (ASSAD) said:
“we WILL HAVE our change and democracy and will put LAWS in place to deal with people like KT.”
Well there are alrEAdy many laws by the Assad mafia to “deal” with “people like me”. People like me have been brutalized, oppressed like anything for the last 45 years. We have been picked off just because of our beliefs and have been rotting in prisons or dying a torturous death. If the new regime will continue the opression, then how is it a qualitative change for “people like K.T” ??
October 8th, 2011, 3:22 pm
Akbar Palace said:
Aboud,
Welcome back. You’re the heart and soul of the Syrian revolution. You don’t mince words, you know Syrians deserve better, and you don’t make excuses.
873,
Where did you learn so much about geotectonic weapons?
Dale Anderson,
What is an elephant gun? I don’t think there are elephants in Syria.
October 8th, 2011, 3:44 pm
ann said:
Syria mulls joining Customs Union – Oct 8, 2011
Interview with Assistant Syrian Foreign Minister Abdul Fattah Ammoura
http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/10/08/58392675.html
Moscow is kickstarting Days of Syrian Culture Monday. The opening closely follows a visit by Assistant Syrian Foreign Minister Abdul Fattah Ammoura.
He was speaking in an exclusive interview with The Voice of Russia.
What were the agenda and the outcome of your Moscow talks?
The agenda was focused on plans for Syria to join the Customs Union that already embraces Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. I hope this third round of talks about the matter will prove conclusive, allowing Syria to enter the Union and enjoy the benefits of free trade within it. The Syrian side also praised Russia and China for vetoing the Western-tabled Security Council resolution on Syria. It sees this veto as a milestone marking the end of an era in which the West profligately sucked resources from the developing world.
What if any is Syrian action to counter the Western slander against Syria?
Syrian diplomats are knocking on all doors for friendship, understanding and support. They find these in Russia, China and countries in Asia and Latin America. These countries tell the world the truth about Syria. The Western networks do not, and often serve their paymasters by spreading lies about my country.
Is there any progress on plans to secure international help for upgrading the port facilities in Tartus?
The issue will be under discussion during a Moscow visit by my country’s Finance Minister in the coming days. All aspects of the Tartus project will be looked into, including joint operation of the port.
Will there be reciprocal Russian visits to Syria at the same level?
A regular dialogue between the two countries is an absolute must, and it is already under way. Delegations have been shuttling back and fourth for many weeks. A deputy Russian FM, who visited Syria recently, proved a fluent speaker of Arabic. We were on the same length with him on all important international issues, as well as the chosen communication medium. We both saw the truth about Syria eye to eye.
October 8th, 2011, 3:45 pm
Areal said:
121. Ya Mara Ghalba said:
1. If Assad were such a reformer, why did he not entertain the idea of a multi-party polity before 2011?
REALITY
The Syrian government did try to implement the idea.
The big problem was ( and still is ) the Muslim Brotherhood.
The government tried first to negotiate the inclusion of the MB in the Syrian political scene on the Turkish “secular” model
but it failed for some reasons which are not relevant now in this discussion.
The MB joined the “opposition” in 2005.
The government then tried to find a legal way to exclude the MB .
It is not so easy , the MB can create a apparently non religious front end party or use independent candidates , etc .
[ Some western countries experienced the problem with terrorist groups which revived with another name right after their dissolution by authorities]
The government thinks it has found the winning formula with its new party law.
Looking at the reactions from the Opposition activists , it may be right.
To date , only a few new parties have been registered.
The remaining secular opposition still hopes to topple the government by using armed forces from its bases in Turkey.
October 8th, 2011, 3:46 pm
NEW REGIME NEW HOPE said:
Mr Assad and co. Soon the hunters will become the hunted.
1 hour 19 minutes ago – Libya
‘Tunisia has arrested a colonel in the former Libyan intelligence service, hiding out in a rented house in a remote town after Gaddafi’s fall, the official TAP news agency says.’
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/libya-oct-8-2011-2126
October 8th, 2011, 3:51 pm
ann said:
So-called revolutionary forces in Syria inspired by US – expert
Oct 8, 2011
Interview with Vyacheslav Matuzov, President of the Russian Society for the Promotion of Friendship and Business Ties with Arab Countries.
http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/10/08/58323974.html
I’ve been talking to various analysts. Some of them were telling me that Russia’s and China’s use of the veto power in the UN is a large mistake because the Arab street and the Arab community tend to see it as a support for Mr. Assad’s regime. Do you agree with this stance?
When I heard words that were pronounced by the American representative in the UN and the Security Council, Suzanne Rice, I was surprised by non-diplomatic language the American representative in the UN used, when she characterized the position of other colleagues in the UN Security Council. She used accusations and blaming. They cannot use such words because it’s an independent position of the Russian Federation, independent from the American policy, independent from the American point of view.
And when it was repeated by the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, on the same theme and Hillary Clinton even forgot she doesn’t represent the opinion of the Syrian people, so she blamed the Russian Federation and China in the name of the Syrian people. I was astonished by such lack of diplomacy and political conscience in American diplomatic circles. It was not a diplomatic way to deal with other colleagues during the discussion of hard issues on the international level. I think that the US leadership feel themselves comfortable in the unilateral world. They consider that they give orders to other heads of state to get rid of their posts as the president of this or that state.
It is unacceptable from moral, political and from juridical point of view. It is unacceptable because the world opinion is not the American opinion. There are states that are against American policy towards Syria – India, China, the African continent, Brazil – so we can say that the western position, authorized by the Americans, is not acceptable for others. Dictate can be feared in Tunisia, in Libya but not in Russia. I think they make a big mistake using this language.
I see that Syria is a very complicate problem and Russia is not inclined to support opposition leaders not because they are against the Syrian leadership or the government but because any interference from outside into Syria’s internal affairs is unacceptable from the legal point of view. It was absolutely clear from the words of Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s representative in the UN – and I fully support his position, which was pronounced in his speech during the discussion.
Mr. Matuzov, how justified is the statement that this position of Russia and China undermined their positions in the Middle East?
I can say that it’s undermining American geopolitical policy and I can say that this policy is to be regarded more thoroughly than the Syrian government’s position. America proclaimed the necessity to reconstruct fully and completely the Middle East, to construct on the ruined states a new political-geographical map of a big and new Near East. We heard it from Condoleezza Rice in the days of George W. Bush. But neoconservative thinkers that was explained by Francis Fukuyama in his very well-known article about the neoconservative moment where he described the position of American neoconservative forces towards the Middle East and the US’s international policy. I think those are the ideas that were plainly and very obviously explained in Democratic Realism, an article in The National Interest magazine.
I think it’s absolutely unacceptable for any other political establishment in any country – in Russia, in China and even in developing countries of the third world. I think it’s an egoistic, unilateral position that can be rejected on the level of the UN. I think it’s the main point of contradictions between Russia and the US, which explains that neoconservative forces in the US are again facing the world after they lost presidential elections in the US, when Barack Obama was elected the president of the US and his speech in Cairo addressed the Islamic world.
Now, a new neoconservative wave in the American international policy is fixed on the so-called Arab revolutions, but they are known in the Arab world as coups d’état and maybe in the Islamic world too, because they have spread to such countries of the region as Iran and I don’t exclude that even a member of the UN will in the end of this geopolitical operation of the US undergo the same restructuring of its territorial integrity.
As far as I understand you have been to Syria recently. What are your impressions?
There were 24 Russian political analysts, journalists and public figures that visited Syria on the invitation of the Syrian government. They gave us an opportunity to see some cities that were very widely known from world press – Hama, Homs, Latakia. We visited those cities and I can say that we didn’t’ notice any ruins in the streets. None of the houses were destroyed, only governmental centers were destroyed –the main police department and some others. All villas, all cottages were absolutely untouched.
So I can say that the so-called revolutionary forces in Syria are inspired by the position of the US and their declaration to support them, the demands to throw over the Syrian government. Among those forces we also see some terroristic organizations like the Muslim Brotherhood that were killing people. The latest case of their killing was the great Mufti of Syria, who was killed by unknown people belonging to this organization.
I can say that hundreds of police officers and servicemen were killed by the so-called “peaceful demonstrators.” It is not a peaceful demonstration and Russia understands that. When they called on the Syrian government to calm down and treat demonstrators in a peaceful way, the same thing was told to the opposition leaders, but the US rejected such kind of approach and demanded Russia to support their position and to throw over the legal Syrian government. It’s unacceptable from any point of view – moral, legal and political.
October 8th, 2011, 3:53 pm
Areal said:
130. Dale Andersen said:
Memo To: ZOO
RE: “…eradication of analphabetism…”
Is that word derived from anal?
REALITY
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/analphabetism
Please can you spare us your barely literate remarks.
You are self slandering a well known Danish name.
October 8th, 2011, 4:00 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Four European embassies were entered by protesters today.London,Geneva, Vienna, and Proxel.
A.P. I thoght Jewish do not get to the internet on Yom Kippur.
Do we believe Saleh will leave in few days? I doubt it, dictators lie.but if he follow up and do what he said he will do,resign, Assad will be the only president dictator left.
October 8th, 2011, 4:23 pm
sheila said:
Dear #120. Khalid Tlass,
From your several apologies, I am going to venture to say that deep inside you are a decent person who is absolutely furious from what is happening in Syria and is lashing out against anything that he can think could be the reason. I want you to know that we are all furious, including the menhebaks, for different reasons. But Khaled, words do hurt. All I want you to think about (at the risk of sounding like your mother and getting a lot of snide remarks form the smart alecs on SC), is the following:
Ali bin Abi Taleb was asked once: “if there is one thing that you wish for, what would it be?”. He said: “I would like to have the neck of a giraffe“. His friend asked in bewilderment: “but why? What would that do for you?”. His answer was: “I want every word I say to go through a very long passageway before it comes out of my mouth“.
You asked me: “So which one do you want Sheila ?”. The truth is: I want neither.
October 8th, 2011, 4:26 pm
Syrialover said:
# 121. Ya Mara Ghalba
Thoughtfully and eloquently argued. I respect that even if I don’t agree with your conclusions.
Let’s just remember the famous American election slogan “it’s about the economy, stupid”
It applies every time to every election everywhere, always. It’s also fuelling the Arab Spring uprisings.
And if a genuine oppostion uses that slogan in a true election, the Assadists, with their mantle of economic illiteracy, corruption and government-by-gunpoint, would have to bring out the tanks and helicopter gunships in full force to keep power.
AIG # 124 is also right about what could be unleashed if free speech and information flowed.
October 8th, 2011, 4:33 pm
Aboud said:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH OMG I can’t believe the menhebaks actually fell for the “Emmanuel Goldstein” post AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA oh dear sweet God it was worth it to be away for a whole week just to see that happen 🙂 Epiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiic fail you guys. This is gonna be a classic thread in the history of Syria Comment.
I mean, come on, “The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism”? Seriously? Not one of you has ever read 1984? Never mind, I’ll be happy to educate you. You people really should widen your horizons beyond Besho worship 🙂
October 8th, 2011, 4:45 pm
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Turkey the unfortunate. From zero problems with neighbors, to zero neighbors with no problems.
.
October 8th, 2011, 4:46 pm
Aboud said:
From 1984
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
And the Baathists are taking Orwell’s lessons to heart 🙂
October 8th, 2011, 4:47 pm
Aboud said:
Dale
“I need an address from you so I can ship you an elephant gun”
I’m afraid Waleed Mu’allem doesn’t venture out to Homs much these days 🙂
October 8th, 2011, 4:50 pm
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
@ Ya Mara Ghalba
Just read your piece. One of the better comments from the pro-Assad camp. Let me just compose a response.
October 8th, 2011, 4:56 pm
Aboud said:
This described the menhebaks when they scream chants for Besho;
“At this moment, the entire group of people broke into a deep, slow, rhythmical chant of “B-B! B-B!” – over and over again, very slowly….
It was an act of self-hypnosis, a deliberate drowning of consciousness by the means of rhythmic noise.”
How could Orwell have seen so clearly, so long ago. Astonishing.
🙂
October 8th, 2011, 4:57 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
Aboud, greaaat to see u back, *hugs*, did u get arms training with the FSA this week ? You should have.
Btw the Rastan siege was a total failure, it took them 6 DAYS to control a town of 80,000 people and they’re gloating about it, they couldn’t kill any senior leader, they just destroyed a few poor houses on the outskirts to rubble, whats better, they dare not set up checkpoints all over for fear of FSA sniping at them.
What are the situation about the checkpoints in Homs ?
October 8th, 2011, 5:00 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
Ghalba is a real charmer, don’t ya’ll think so ?
October 8th, 2011, 5:02 pm
jad said:
Syria closed the Turkish border:
أفادت وكالة “أنباء الاناضول” أن “سوريا تغلق معبر تصيبين الحدودي مع تركيا”.
October 8th, 2011, 5:14 pm
Syrialover said:
Dammit, I have to agree with AIG again in his #32 post about the costs and inevitable wearing down of security infrastructure in Syria.
I am assuming it comes from his close encounters inside the IDF. Whatever, it rings very true.
Alex #34 might be right about the regime’s strategy. But like everything it does the outcome will be driven by incompetence, waste, corruption and junk judgement. And further shrivelling of a badly starved economy.
And even if Iran fools around on the edges with fuel assistance, its own disastrously inadequate refining infrastructure and inefficient under-producing oil industry don’t make it much of an ally.
Mismanagement of Iran’s oil is among the causes and symptoms of the economic and social tinderbox Bashar’s best buddy Ahmadinejad is sitting on – he couldn’t afford to have the Iranian population catch him siphoning off fuel to Syria for too long. Remember the “what about us?” outcry back home when he helped Hizbollah rebuild infrastructure in Lebanon?
October 8th, 2011, 5:20 pm
Tara said:
Syrialover
Hi.is it true that Iran’s oil refining infrastructure is inadequate and inefficient? I have heard a contradictory assessment on SC. I think that would make a big difference of how much Itan can help Bashar..
October 8th, 2011, 5:24 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
The news from Iran that they threatened Turkey with bad consequences if they act against Syria,along with the news previously that mentioned about threats from Assad to Davituglo,all indicate that they expect Turkey to do something against Syria in the next weeks.
Turkey is expected to declare a buffer zone, this will be followed by Syria to use military planes,then NFZ will be issued
October 8th, 2011, 5:27 pm
Ghufran said:
من قتل مشعل تمو؟
الجواب السهل هو النظام
الجواب الحقيقي لا نعلم
رأيي الشخصي ان النظام ليس له مصلحه الان في إشعال مناطق الأكراد و زيادة أعدائه
لا تتسرعوا في الحكم و تصنعون زينب ثانيه
October 8th, 2011, 5:29 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
Majed, we should stop expecting help from liar traitor Turkey and / or Saudi Arabia. We will do this ourselves, Insha’Allah.
October 8th, 2011, 5:31 pm
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
@ 121. Ya Mara Ghalba
Ok, so on point one we are pretty much in agreement: the protestors are the impetus for the promised political reforms. This would not have happened without them.
The educated class in Syria is fairly small, for that reason I don’t see why they will play an important role in any forthcoming election. One vote, one person.
“ The educated folks will be creating and propagating the discourse of the elections contest.”
I don’t think you will find much agreement between Assad’s party and a newly formed opposition. It’s not going to be a debate about autocracy versus democracy; it’s going to be a debate about corruption, nepotism, economic policy, free trade, foreign policy, education etc. There are so many areas in which the new party can differentiate itself from the government.
You point out that the opposition is unknown in Syria, which is true, but you then go on to claim that it is a weakness; it isn’t. The opposition’s greatest strength is that they are new. The strategy of any newly formed opposition should be to point out the failings of the current government, and there are many (Zeyzoun Dam anyone?). I am sure that when people are presented with a credible plan for getting this country back on track they won’t be voting for Assad.
October 8th, 2011, 5:34 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
Btw, just saw a video of a demo in KSA. People were holding up posters of Khomeini and other Shia religious leaders, they were also brandishing firearms while shouting “silmiyah”. King Abdullah should wipe out these ARMED TERRORIST GANGS motivated by a FOREIGN POWER ( you know who)
October 8th, 2011, 5:37 pm
Akbar Palace said:
Majedkhaldoun,
That’s correct, religious Jews do no “work” on Saturdays and holidays like Yom Kippur. Flipping a switch or pushing a keyboard is considered work. So you can see, neither AIG, Amir, or myself are very religious; we’ve all posted today.
I am fasting however, and I have a terrible headache.
October 8th, 2011, 5:44 pm
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
@ SYRIA LOVER
And if a genuine oppostion uses that slogan in a true election, the Assadists, with their mantle of economic illiteracy, corruption and government-by-gunpoint, would have to bring out the tanks and helicopter gunships in full force to keep power.
You’re spot on. The opposition should simply point out the government’s deficiencies.
October 8th, 2011, 5:44 pm
Tara said:
Ghufran
The murder of Mashaal Tamo has the regime name written all over the crime. The link Haytham Khouri posted last night was what convinced me with the regime’s culpability. It is a simple pattern recognition. The regime is so retarded and driven byالغل و الحقد that it does not calculate or even care about consequences. The regime is out there to kill or revenge anyone VOCAL. This is their criteria even if eventually it will get them to dig their own grave. Ibrahim Qashush, Ali Firzat, Ryad Seif are all examples. Fortunately for the Syrian people, Bashar’s average IQ is what will bring him down.
October 8th, 2011, 5:49 pm
ann said:
U.S. urges Moscow to join ban on arms to Syria – Oct 8, 2011
The U.S. State Department urges Moscow to join the ban on arms shipments to Syria. State Department spokesman Victoria Nuland said Friday that Moscow should take more serious steps to exert pressure on official Damascus
http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/10/08/58367926.html
The U.S. State Department urges Moscow to join the ban on arms shipments to Syria. State Department spokesman Victoria Nuland said Friday that Moscow should take more serious steps to exert pressure on official Damascus.
Previously, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that the Syrian leadership must undertake sweeping reforms in country, and failing to do so – it will have to step down.
At the same time the Russian leader stressed that this decision is not up to NATO or separate European countries, but only the people and authorities of Syria.
October 8th, 2011, 5:49 pm
ann said:
Calling Assad ‘illegitimate’ is the wrong way – Russia`s deputy foreign minister – Oct 8, 2011
http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/10/08/58378035.html
Referring to the Syrian President Bashar Assad as ‘illegitimate’ won`t help in resolving the crisis in the country and will just put Syria on the brink of a civil war, Russia`s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said addressing The Dialogue of Civilizationsforum in Rhodes, Greece.
‘Promoting democracy is one thing, while toppling the regime is another’, Mr. Bogdanov said. He added, however, that Russia is not opposing the UNSC resolution on Syria and is ready to continue the talks on the issue with the western partners.
The Russian diplomat also said that Russia plans two meeting with the Syrian delegation in Moscow this month.
Bogdanov stressed that Russia insists on a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Syria, through reforms demanded by the society. (TASS)
October 8th, 2011, 5:53 pm
ann said:
Syrian embassy mobbed – Oct 8, 2011
http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/10/08/58381667.html
A crowd of extremists has mobbed the Syrian embassy compound in Vienna. The attack was part of a rally organized overnight by unknown protesters gathered outside the mission.
The police officer guarding the mission reported the attack and when a police unit arrived at the site the protesters ran away. 11 were detained though and later told police they had rallied in protest against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
October 8th, 2011, 6:02 pm
ann said:
Russian, Chinese veto averted another Libya – Medvedev
http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/10/07/58342223.html
The Western-tabled Security Council resolution on Syria did not rule out intervention, and the Russian and Chinese veto on it averted another Libya.
Speaking at a session of his National Security Council in Moscow Friday, President Medvedev said Russia will continue to use its powers as a permanent member of the UN Security Council for vetoing similar resolutions in the future.
He also said Syria raises concerns, but the crisis in it cannot be resolved under international pressure on the Syrians.
October 8th, 2011, 6:05 pm
sheila said:
To #121. Ya Mara Ghalba,
You said: “The most significant has been greater opening of the economy to the international marketplace and futher moves away from Statism and socialism. The process is far from finished and is proceeding at a pace of gradual, organic evolution, and certainly not revolution”. I would like to contend that the only reforms that happened in Syria under Bashar are those that help somebody in the regime make a lot of money. If this is the Chinese model of gradual change, can you explain why China was able to achieve so much more, in the same period, than Bashar? Not withstanding the fact that China as a country is far more complicated than Syria.
I would like to go over your points:
1- You said:”(1) The overall number of people who accepted the invitation to join anti-regime demonstrations was “small” (though no hard number is available)”. Very disputable. Taking into consideration the brutal crack down on dissent in Syria, I would like to argue that the number of demonstrators in the streets is amazingly high (though no hard numbers are available). With the understanding that upon leaving your house you might never come back. That makes one demonstrator, too many.
2- You said: “(2) The educated classes did not join the anti-regime demonstrations“. Very wrong. University students are demonstrating across the country, lawyers, doctors and engineers have staged many demonstrations and sit-ins. The Diaspora, mostly educated, are vehemently against the regime. I do not know where you get this idea. Examples abound: in Homs, the Attasis the Jandalis and the Sbais to name a few. My family alone, which counts in the thousands all highly educated and mostly against the regime.
3- You said: “(3) Most of the religiously conservative classes did not join the anti-regime demonstrations“. Wrong again. Religious conservatives in the Sunni community are staunchly anti regime. You said: “Neither did the clergy; most of the Sunni clerical leadership went on record as anti-tumult and pro-civil-process“. Wouldn‘t you have done the same when your neck is on the line?. Wrong again. Even with the brutality, many clergy men announced their disgust with the regime. You said:” Most of the people who attended the mosque on Friday did not attend an anti-regime demonstration afterwards, not even if there was a demonstration conveniently available and on offer to them at the doorstep”. True when you know you might very well be killed, arrested or tortured. You said: “since most of them don’t express alienation against the regime, you shouldn’t expect them to vote en masse against the regime”. But who can express anything in Syria without fear of severe repercussions?.
4- You said: “(4) No representatives of agricultural or rural interests having been talking up an alternative to the Assad regime“. Of course. Who dares talk about an alternative to the Assad regime?. We know their names: either murdered, in jail, or fled the country. You said: “There was very little or no movement of people from rural areas into the towns and cities to participate in demonstrations (despite some fake boasts from the fake revolutionaries to the contrary)”. Wrong again. There were many attempts to do so. Muhammad just mentioned the one in Idleb that resulted in the killing of 70 demonstrators trying to enter Idleb from the villages to participate in demonstrations. All cities today are enclosed in and protected by check points, precisely to stop the rural areas from pouring into the cities.
5- You said: “(5) Once the reforms announced by Assad are completed, there will be no major disagreements between Assad and the general Opposition on the structure of the institutions of the State”. What reforms?. Is he going to arrest his cousin Najib for torturing children?. Is he going to prosecute his cousin Makhlouf for racketeering? Is he going to issue an arrest warrant for his uncle Rifaat for crimes against humanity? And is he going to go after all the regime thugs for embezzlement?. No reform is meaningful without rooting out corruption and rooting out corruption means throwing all the regime members in prison. This will result in Assad not being able to stand for elections being a convicted felon.
6- You said: “(6) The demonstrators were predominantly from the poorly educated working class. Most of them did not have an agenda beyond wanting Assad to leave and wanting a breath of fresh air in the country of an unspecified kind”. I would like to venture to say that the breath of fresh air that these people want is of a specified kind. It is called dignity.
7- You said: “(7) The various Syrian opposition parties are very weak today, their representatives are barely known or entirely unknown to the Syrian public, and I can’t see a route by which they can make themselves a whole lot stronger by election day”. This depends on when election day is and on whether Syria is still under the Assad regime. You said: “The attempt to unconstitutionally overthrow the regime has discredited swathes of opposition”. May I ask: how do you constitutionally overthrow a dictator?. I would give Syrians more credit than that, even the ones you are accusing of being poorly educated. Even the illiterates get it.
8- You said: “(8) Aleppo (all overwhelmingly Sunni in religion, btw) have had essentially or very nearly zero anti-regime demonstrations during this past six months”. Nearly zero is not true. There has been many demonstrations, however not at the scale of other cities. Aleppo is boiling under the surface and I assure you that the majority of the city would never vote for Assad in a free election.
9- You said: “9) Everybody in Syria knows that the anti-regime crowd has been lying about security forces atrocities and that the regime has been telling the truth. (Foreigners don’t know it, since they don’t watch Syrian TV, but foreigners are irrelevant since they won’t be voting). More generally, the regime has been able to use its control over Syrian mass media especially TV news to strong effect. The State-controlled TV news puts out good quality products for the most part, which enjoy good credibility with the Syrian public, and have good market penetration”. This one renders me speechless. No one I know in Syria believes Syrian TV. Everyone I know in Syria knows what is going on and what atrocities the regime is committing. Even those that are pro regime, are aware of how bad the regime is and are only supporting it because of their fear of the unknown.
I am really tired by now. You exhausted me. Have you lived in Syria?. Do you know or understand the meaning of the word dignity?. This is what it all boils down to. Years and years of being trampled on in every aspect of life. Humiliation in every possible way. Syrians have had enough. The only way Assad will win an election is if he is still in power when it is held and we all know why.
October 8th, 2011, 6:08 pm
Son of Damascus said:
@873 post 118:
you said am a : “Closet AIPAC are you? LOLOL Cooper was wanted in the same way that any resister is “wanted” by the US govt”
So the fact I don’t believe in Bill Cooper’s BS makes me an AIPAC sympathizer!! Or is it because I told you to check out Carl Sagan (who was an agnostic). Either way excellent deduction! Yeah I am the one drinking the cool-aid.
You told me to do my own research, that I do. I have a hard time believing you do any actual REAL research, because you fail to see that on the internet anyone can post whatever BS they want, and claim it as fact without any actual proof (i.e SANA, ADDUNIA, Bill Cooper…). Even when it comes to such obvious things as a poorly made video on youtube that uses a clip FROM A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE AS PROOF of alien interference on Earth!!
Good to see Besho and gang have the conspiracy theorist in their camp, whats next the Muamarah is an alien conspiracy? What the Salafi/Zionist/Wahhabi/CIA conspiracy is not enough? Did some alien probe you with the information of the Muamarah? LOL
thanks for the laugh
Son of Damascus
October 8th, 2011, 6:13 pm
SANDRO LOEWE said:
When I think of a dinasty like Assad´s what fascinates me more is the greed and the blindness that converge in a group of people every some years in every place of this world. When Assad uses force and bribery to keep himself and its allies in power they act for self protection but for greed too. Sometimes they justify their acts on the basis of protecting themselves but other times they just act on greed and ambition, blind of what will happen to them or to their sons in the future. Rationally Assad cannot think that syrian people will stand forever under a dictatorship, things always change, shit happens. So when he is acting as a dictator he is killing his own figure in future history and probably by killing his syrian citizens he is killing his own sons and daughters too. So by trying to protect himself he is comitting suicide.
October 8th, 2011, 6:29 pm
ann said:
Kurdish Parties Condemn Assassination of Opposition Figure Mashaal Tammo by Terrorists
Oct 09, 2011
http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2011/10/09/374306.htm
QAMISHLI, HASAKA, (SANA) – Kurdish parties on Saturday condemned the assassination of the nationalist opposition figure Mashaal Tammo at the hands of armed terrorist groups.
In a statement which SANA got a copy of, the parties said that this crime aims at instigating sedition and undermining the stability of Hasaka Province.
The Kurdish parties called upon the Kurds to be aware of the purposes of this crime, calling upon the competent authorities to reveal the perpetrators of this crime as soon as possible.
Head of the National Initiative for Syrian Kurds Omar Aussi said that the assassination of the nationalist opposition figure Mashaal Tammo is within the framework of the conspiracy against Syria.
In an interview with the Syrian TV, Aussi added that the assassination was executed by external sides and armed terrorist groups in the country in the context of eliminating the political, academic and religious prominent figures and instigating sedition between the Kurds and the state.
He stressed that after those external sides and the armed terrorist groups failed in fulfilling their scheme, they resorted to the acts of destruction, chaos and sabotage.
He pointed out that Kurds, as all the Syrians, will not be deceived by such acts, highlighting that the Kurds are patriots and with the reform program.
Earlier, body of Tammo was escorted from Qamishli city to the town of al-Janaziah after being assassinated by an armed terrorist group.
Governor of Hasaka Province Mu’za Salloum, attending the ceremony, said that “This crime committed by the armed terrorist groups aims at undermining the stability of the province that has been stable and calm since the beginning of the events.”
An armed terrorist group on Friday afternoon assassinated Tammo and wounded his son Marcel and Zahida Rash Kilo.
Tammo had continuously stressed the importance of national unity, comprehensive political, economic and social reforms and rejection of the calls of foreign interference in the Syrian internal affairs. He left behind a wife and six sons.
October 8th, 2011, 6:29 pm
kubbeh said:
Eshani,
Lets assume that the army can put the whole of Syria under military control. OK, then what is their next step?
How do you bring about civil obediance and compliance from a state of “military control”?
The plain fact is that the minute the army leaves cities like Homs, Hama or Daraa, the people will be back on the streets.
The regime is locked in catch 22: They can’t let the army leave their positions since they will loose control, but as long as the army is still there Syria can’t return to normallacy.
October 8th, 2011, 6:33 pm
Tara said:
Sandro
What puzzles me the most is not Bashar’s action, rather Asma and her close family. Bashar is the son of a mass murderer so crime is in his family but Asma isn’t. I indeed have crossed path with Asma many years ago. I would have never though that she will end up that way. Not so much her marriage to Bashar, rather her apparent acceptance of what has come of Bashar. She comes from a “traditional” family. A mother from Damascus and a father from Homs. She was born in England so democracy is not a foreign concept to her. For greed and power to corrupt people like this is beyond my comprehension although I bet this is rather naive to say. The history is full of similar examples. Unfortunately her education did not make her fair better than the Tunisian former hairstylist.
October 8th, 2011, 6:46 pm
Tara said:
Bronco
I would have liked if Robert Ford attend Mashaal Tamo funeral service. No?
October 8th, 2011, 6:49 pm
SANDRO LOEWE said:
Ali Farzat and Riad Seif have been attacjed by shabbiha because they previously offered interviews to al Arabiya or other channels telling the truth about the regime. We cannot probe who killed the kurdish leader, etc. But it would be a good strategy for the regime to destroy leaders who could become against them if things kept worsening. Who killed Kamal Joumblat, Dany Chamaun, Hobeika and many others when Lebanon was under control of Syria… exactly. Many of them were not declared enemies fo Syria, but had something in common, they were dangerous of traison and under suspect. Absolutism, when in danger, has no need for sectarian or tribal leaders who can think by themselves. The regime will create need puppet leaders if they need to.
October 8th, 2011, 6:49 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
I have a question.
Should we impeach Obama for orderng to kill American citizen,AlAwlaki, without a trial.?
I bekieve Obama made a mistake.
October 8th, 2011, 6:51 pm
Son of Damascus said:
@ Sheila
I must say that I like your level headed responses, and always look forward to reading your posts.
I just hope the ill-informed read your posts, and come out with a better understanding of what the thawrawgieh are really asking for.
I don’t know what religious denomination you come from (Nor do I really care to be honest), but thank you for keeping the discussion on the issues at hand rather than sectarian BS.
I come from a Sunni background but never identify myself by my religion, I like the old saying (I cant type in Arabic for lack of dual language keyboard 🙁 )
: La tasaloo 3any Thahabi, mathhabi, wa thahaaby. In short it translates to don’t ask about my gold, my religion, and my coming and going. (Note am not sure the source of the saying, or if I remember the wording correctly, but the gist is the same nevertheless).
Regards
Son of Damascus
October 8th, 2011, 6:55 pm
Aboud said:
Dear God, not the “nothing is happening in Aleppo” myths yet again? If the regime wasn’t concerned about Aleppo, why have there been so many arrests there? Why are half the regime’s shabiha and security men up in and around Aleppo? And I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; I’ve lost count of the number of doctor, lawyer an engineer sit ins in Aleppo that were brutally broken up by the regime.
The regime cannot be described as being “strong” in any city it has to send tanks into to quell demonstrations. In every city where the security forces temporarily withdrew from, massive demonstrations came out; Latakia, Dar’a, Hama, Baniyas, Telkelakh, Homs, Idlib, Deir el Zour. All were subsequently invaded on a scale larger than anything the Syrian army launched in the 1973 war.
And it never fails to amaze me, how certain people are satisfied with the tiny crumbs the regime has passed off as “economic reforms”. So we now have ATMs and private universities? Yipeeee, Syria is now where Jordan and Lebanon were in the mid 90s. Geeesh people, are your expectations so low?
The regime will never allow free and fair elections. Heck, even an independent press, like the Lebanese have, might as well be the apocalypse to Besho.
The Baathists would rather rule rubble, than be equal citizens in a prosperous and free society. To them, a country which they don’t rule, no matter how impotent and feeble, is not worth living in.
And yet again, the regime apologists would have us believe that “armed gangs” murdered a human rights activist. Meshaal Tamo was in hiding for three months…*from the regime*. His funeral was shot at and people killed…*by the regime’s thugs*. The only people who did not pay their condolences were any representatives *from the regime*.
Whoever is advising Besho, must really have it in for him. I cannot think of anyone more hell bent on his own destruction and that of his family.
October 8th, 2011, 7:16 pm
Aboud said:
You guys want to see what a bad Al-Dunya action movie looks like? Check this out
October 8th, 2011, 7:19 pm
Syria no kandahar said:
Some posters here should just be doing mehshi with 20 garlics and ribs,.They discus events in stupid way,no evidence no analysis.They think politics like mehshi:rice,garlic,ribs
…
October 8th, 2011, 7:24 pm
Ghufran said:
The myth of privacy in syria’s Internet
http://www.aksalser.com/?page=view_articles&id=560bbe5a47bd419c71bc561a57a16e46
October 8th, 2011, 7:39 pm
873 said:
167. Son of Damascus said:
@873 post 118:
FOX News and CNN arent research. Go look up the Eastland patents instead of calling names. Read THEM, then ask an expert what they mean. Read the testimony by the scientist/son of Alaska Congressman who first alerted the science world to the issue. HAARP first main facilities were built in Alaska. Read the EU condemnation of weather warfare and throw in some scientific papers on scalar weapons.
On the lighter, so-called conspiracy side– Before the VIPs pulled out last spring they left a little wink for those on the coast of east central Florida, Brevard County. This past spring government posted tsunami signs all along our beaches. Never been done before and was thought to be a joke- not anymore.
Strange to post these signs for the first time ever, this spring, a couple of months BEFORE the Canary Islands start having record numbers of earthquakes [in mid July]. Guess those Elyons are giving The Olympians a heads up? LOLOL
(photo is genuine and the tsunami signs are still up on the beaches)
http://i761.photobucket.com/albums/xx260/coopercrew/tsunami-zone-0323.jpg
Is Defense Sec Cohen a ‘conspiracy nut’ too? Sure, we know. Al CIAduh made the jump from box cutter technology in their Afghan caves to physics geniuses overnight!
“Others [terrorists] are engaging even in an eco-type of terrorism whereby they can alter the climate, set off earthquakes, volcanoes remotely through the use of electromagnetic waves… So there are plenty of ingenious minds out there that are at work finding ways in which they can wreak terror upon other nations…It’s real, and that’s the reason why we have to intensify our [counterterrorism] efforts.” Secretary of Defense William Cohen, April 1997 counterterrorism conference sponsored by former Georgia Senator Sam Nunn.
October 8th, 2011, 7:41 pm
ann said:
Zoe Holman: Long-divided opposition fails to bury the hatchet
October 09, 2011
http://gulftoday.ae/portal/31b0d15f-9dfb-4263-b5ab-d68f72905806.aspx
The establishment of a 140-member Syrian National Council may be the best hope yet for creating a united front to oppose the regime of President Bashar Al Assad. But the very size and diversity of the body, while potentially providing its strength, could also be it undoing if members of the long-divided opposition are unable to put aside their differences.
“This attempt is unique,” said Yaser Tabbara, a US attorney and member of the council’s steering committee. “It is the most systematic, scientific effort to form an opposition that is united and independent at its very core. “People who have been divided for over 50 years have decided to put politics aside and work on creating a neutral platform, without baggage or personal ambition,” he commented.
Since the uprising against the Syrian regime began in March, there have been several attempts at creating a formal representative body that would constitute a serious opposition to Assad. Most efforts have been thwarted by geographic, political or ideological differences.
The newly formed council, however, includes members of the Local Co-ordination Committees, the groups that have been driving the protest on the ground. The council also includes exiled representatives of the Muslim Brotherhood and signatories to the 2005 Damascus Declaration, a landmark statement of unity by opposition members. “The members are well recognised and have excellent relationships inside and outside Syria,” Tabbara said.
The lawyer said it took three months for all the opposition parties to reach an agreement on forming the council. Still, the failure of previous opposition movements to present a united front against the Assad regime leads many observers to take a wait-and-see approach. “I am not sure in the end how different this council is,” Salwa Ismail, a politics professor at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, said. “It is already contested, with different groups on the ground and abroad saying it is not representative.”
Some leading members of the opposition-in-exile old guard, such as Michel Kilo, who heads the National Committee for Democratic Change, are not included on the recently released list of members. Most agree that the greatest challenge facing the council will be to unite the numerous opposition groups that exist outside of Syria.
“The problem right now is that we have groups outside who don’t know each other, with a history of division spanning 40 to 50 years in which all activists were persecuted ruthlessly by the regime,” Ismail said. “Almost 100,000 political prisoners were taken over this period and the regime led a successful campaign in dividing people and generating mistrust,” he continued. “It takes a long time to overcome that.”
But with human rights groups estimating that the civilian death toll from the conflict has exceeded 3,000, the need for the opposition to present a united front is more pressing than ever. “International governments want some kind of transitional council, like in Libya, that they can recognise and deem legitimate,” Christopher Phillips, an analyst for the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Middle East team, said. “The difference is that the opposition in Libya was locally-based and organised.
October 8th, 2011, 7:49 pm
jad said:
What is going on?
Syria closed the Jordanian border couple hours after closing the Turkish borders:
الحكومة السورية تغلق معبر النصيب التابع للاردن
October 8th, 2011, 7:57 pm
Tara said:
Zoo
Do you think the Egyptian will receive the SNC well? Are the going to be bold enough to be the first to recognize it and give it legitimacy?
October 8th, 2011, 8:10 pm
Husam said:
They are just sending a message politically. Will the close Iraqi border remains to be seen.
October 8th, 2011, 8:11 pm
sheila said:
Dear Son of Damascus,
Thank you for your kind words. I am just like you, a Sunni Muslim who does not really view or value people according to their religious believes or ethnicities. I am a daughter of Aleppo, but have family all over Syria and the world.
Take care.
October 8th, 2011, 8:19 pm
sheila said:
Dear Tara,
Being able to make good mehshi is nothing to sneeze at, doing so and having a beautiful mind is priceless. Thank you Tara for your valuable contribution to SC.
October 8th, 2011, 8:26 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
سهير الأتاسي – رسالة الهيئة العامة للثورة 07-10-2011
October 8th, 2011, 8:27 pm
son of Damascus said:
@873 post 180:
Fox, nor CNN are my sources. Am actually a big Tesla fan, who is considered the grandfather of HAARP and the Eastlund Patent (developed by Bernard Eastlund). However the relevance is reality.
All these conspiracy theories are pure fantasy, with nothing in the way of evidence to back them up.
Why is it that not a single radio scientist supporting these claims? Not ONE!
Where are the formulas and equations, the data and calculations that prove these claims? They don’t exist.
First of all because no one making these crazy claims has the abilities to come up with such scientific documentation, and second of all because – it is pure fantasy!.
Whats next Ron Hubbard electrometer is real!.
By the way can you back up the origin of those tsunami signs, from the picture there is no evidence that shows its actually Florida.
In case you don’t know what evidence actually means here is the definition by way of The Oxford English Dictionary (I hope they are a good enough source for you):
The available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.
The more theories you post, the more it shows your lack of knowledge. Which really amounts to you blaming the whole world for Besho’s faults.
I really don’t know how you made the correlation between HAARP and the whats going on in Syria, you sir/mdm have a vivid and I must say somewhat amusing imagination. I guess thats what helps you sleep at night, while Besho and Co. keep killing and torturing civilians.
By the way can you see the fact everything I said above about HAARP believers can be said pretty much word for word about Besho lovers.
Its been fun poking holes in your theories.
Son of Damascus
October 8th, 2011, 8:30 pm
ann said:
Iraq, siding with Iran, sends essential aid to Syria’s Assad
Sunday, 09 October 2011
http://www.iranfocus.com/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23793:iraq-siding-with-iran-sends-essential-aid-to-syrias-assad&catid=7:iraq&Itemid=29
The Washington Post
By Joby Warrick
More than six months after the start of the Syrian uprising, Iraq is offering key moral and financial support to the country’s embattled president, undermining a central U.S. policy objective and raising fresh concerns that Iraq is drifting further into the orbit of an American arch rival — Iran.
Iraq’s stance has dealt an embarrassing setback to the Obama administration, which has sought to enlist Muslim allies in its campaign to isolate Syrian autocrat Bashar al-Assad. While other Arab states have downgraded ties with Assad, Iraq has moved in the opposite direction, hosting official visits by Syrians, signing pacts to expand business ties and offering political support.
After Iraq sent conflicting signals about its support for Assad last month, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki spoke firmly against regime change in Syria in an interview broadcast on Iraqi television Sept. 30. “We believe that Syria will be able to overcome its crisis through reforms,” Maliki said, rejecting U.S. calls for the Syrian leader to step down. His words echoed those of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who weeks earlier proposed that Syrians should “implement the necessary reforms by themselves.”
On other issues as well, the Maliki government in recent months has hewed closer to Iran’s stance — Iraq, for example, has supported Iran’s right to nuclear technology and advocated U.N. membership for Palestinians — as the U.S. military races to complete its troop withdrawal over the coming months.
Few policy objectives are more important to Iran than preserving the pro-Tehran regime in Syria, longtime Middle East observers say.
“This is Iran’s influence, because preserving the Assad regime is very much in Iran’s national interest,” said David Pollock, a former adviser on Middle East policy for the State Department during the George W. Bush administration. “Iran needs Iraq’s help trying to save their ally in Damascus.”
U.S. officials acknowledged disappointment with Iraq over its dealings with Assad, while noting that other Middle East countries also have been reluctant to abandon Assad at a time when the outcome of the uprising remains uncertain.
“The Iraqis should be more helpful, absolutely,” said a senior administration official involved in Middle East diplomacy.
Some of the proposed financial deals with Syria, however, “turn out to be a lot of talk,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to candidly discuss sensitive issues.
U.S. intelligence officials predict that Syria’s uprising will eventually topple Assad, most likely after the mounting cost of sanctions causes the business elite to turn against him. But the timeline for change is far from clear.
The Obama administration hailed a decision in August by three Persian Gulf Arab states — Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain — to recall their ambassadors to Damascus to protest Assad’s violent suppression of anti-government demonstrators. And Turkey — like Iraq, a major trading partner with Syria — has repeatedly denounced the crackdown and has established Syrian refugee camps and hosted meetings of opposition groups.
Iraqi leaders also have criticized Assad’s brutality, as, indeed, Iran’s Ahmadinejad has done in public remarks. But Iraqi officials have refused to call for Assad’s ouster, or accept Syrian refugees, or even offer symbolic support for the anti-Assad opposition. Instead, the Iraqis have courted trade delegations and signed pipeline deals with Syria.
“Iraq is sending a lifeline to Assad,” said Andrew Tabler, a Syria expert and author of “In the Lion’s Den,” a portrait of Syria under the autocrat.
Middle Eastern experts note that Maliki — a Shiite Muslim who lived in exile in Syria for nearly 15 years — has strategic and sectarian reasons for avoiding a direct confrontation with Assad. Members of Iraq’s Shiite majority and Syria’s ruling Alawite Shiite sect share a common worry about Sunni-led insurgencies. Some Iraqis fear that a violent overthrow of Syrian Alawites will trigger unrest across the border in Iraq.
But other experts say Iraq’s support for Syria underscores the influence of Iran, which has staked billions of dollars on ensuring Assad’s survival. Pollock, the former State Department adviser, said Iraqi leaders fear repercussions from Iran and its Syrian protege as much they covet increased revenue from trade.
“Iran is certainly important behind the scenes, and the Iraqis know the Iranians are looking over their shoulders,” said Pollock, now a researcher for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a think tank.
Pollock noted that Iranian-backed cleric Moqtada al-Sadr — a firebrand Iraqi Shiite with tens of thousands of devoted followers — has publicly backed Assad, calling him a “brother.” Iraqi leaders know that hostility toward Syria could invite reprisals against politicians and ordinary civilians in Baghdad, or perhaps against the estimated 1 million Iraqi refugees living in Syria, he said.
Still, U.S. officials have privately expressed disappointment over Baghdad’s reluctance to take a more forceful stance against Syrian brutality, which millions of Iraqis witness daily on Arab-language cable news networks.
Only in mid-September, after six months of worsening violence, did the Iraqi government issue a statement that appeared to call for Assad’s ouster. In that statement, on Sept. 20, Iraqi spokesman Ali al-Moussawi was quoted as telling New York Times reporters in Baghdad that Iraq had privately urged Assad to step down. “We are against the one-party rule and the dictatorship that hasn’t allowed for free expression,” Moussawi was quoted as saying.
But less than 24 hours later, the Iraqi government began to backpedal. The same spokesman, Moussawi, told reporters on Sept. 21 that Iraqi leaders had never called for Assad’s resignation and said he had been misquoted. “It was neither the nature nor the followed discourse of the Iraqi government to intervene in the affairs of other countries,” Moussawi said.
Maliki’s broadcast interview Sept. 30 reflected a further retreat. While calling for an end to violence, the prime minister rejected regime change as destabilizing and said the crisis should be resolved gradually through reforms.
Assad has survived by relying on hard-currency reserves and Iranian loans to maintain subsidies for Syria’s military and business elites, ensuring their continued loyalty and preventing the further spread of the country’s pro-democracy uprising, which took hold in March.
Faced with international sanctions — including a new European Union ban on oil imports — Syria also has found support from Iraq and other neighbors as it scrambles to refill its hard-currency coffers, now hemorrhaging at a rate estimated at $1 billion a month.
Iraq and Syria, which share historical and cultural ties, have long been trading partners, and smuggling in border towns has generated immense profits even during times of war. Scores of private traders regularly ferry tons of diesel fuel and other goods in vans and pickup trucks, specially modified with heavy suspensions that cause their backsides to jut out like monster trucks at a car show.
Officials in both countries are cracking down on the black market in favor of legitimate ventures, particularly in the energy field. In early August, as other Arab countries were recalling their ambassadors to Syria, Iraq put on an unusual tour for 100 of Syria’s top government and business leaders. The visitors, led by Syria’s trade minister, were shown factories and refineries and applauded by Iraqis eager to cut deals with their Syrian neighbors.
The week-long visit yielded a new pact designed to boost a soaring bilateral trade that already tops $2 billion a year and will solidify Iraq’s status as Syria’s biggest trading partner. Iraqi Trade Minister Khayrullah Babakir, praising the pact, spoke of a new focus on “empowering the private sector in both countries.” There was no mention of sanctions, or of the Syrian uprising.
October 8th, 2011, 8:33 pm
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Sheila,
I would like to see women in politics, rather than women cooking great ma7shi.
.
October 8th, 2011, 8:49 pm
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Akbar,
I had the impression that you are an American Haredi boy…
.
October 8th, 2011, 8:52 pm
sheila said:
Amir,
Please read 178. My post # 186 was a direct response.
October 8th, 2011, 9:02 pm
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Sheila,
I did understand that you were responding, and it wasn’t my intention to offend you or Tara. Just wanted you to know that I think that too little women choose to go to politics.
.
October 8th, 2011, 9:15 pm
OFF THE WALL said:
Jad
A scared clueless regime is what is going on. A criminal plan against the Syrian people by those who were supposed to protect them.
October 8th, 2011, 9:28 pm
ann said:
Al Jazeera..Qatar, Turkey and Syria..Whats next! – 2011-10-09
http://en.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleNO=14055
The coverage of Al Jazeera over the last few months gives us food for thought on how issues and alliances are changing in the Arab world, particularly in regard to relations between Turkey, Syria and Qatar. Taking the example of Syria, it was somewhat strange to note that despite the supplications of protestors to cover their story, Al Jazeera acted as if nothing were happening at first. It was only after the withdrawal of the Qatari Ambassador from Damascus and the negative outcome of Ahmet Daoud Uglu’s visit to Syria that the channel changed tack and the Syrian issue became its hottest headline news.
Then there is the interesting question of the slant Al Jazeera took on the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The channel played a major role in getting the Arab world to see him in a positive light. The starting point was when the Prime Minister walked off stage after an angry exchange with Shimon Peres during a panel discussion on Gaza at the World Economic Forum Davous 2009.
However, since then, any attentive follower of Al Jazeera would have notice the well directed propaganda that has surrounded the image of Erdogan. The increase in his popularity in Arab countries could well be due to the way the channel had orchestrated his appearances, making sure that he was constantly in the news and focusing on what the Arabs may have missed or more pertinently, by pointing out what they have never seen in their leaders.
Today, it seems that Qatar and the gulf monarchies are starting to realize that behind the new Turkey there is a project which is not at all like the one they had in mind. The imminent scenario will not be a Sunni crescent to face the proclaimed Iranian threat. Some have started to apprehend that in the oncoming climate, not even the Sunni monarchies will be safe and change for everybody will be the operative phase. This brings us to the question of “who is good and who is bad”? Turkey or Iran? Another new dilemma that many are starting to question is whether Turkey is a real enemy of Israel. Many are doubtful, especially after the decision of the Turkish government to deploy a missile defense system aimed at protecting NATO members from the threat of Iranian missiles, according to the Iranian explanation.
Since Wadah Khanfar, the former director, left Al Jazeera, not only has news output about Erdogan dropped, but it has also changed its slant and the channel doesn’t promote his hero image anymore. Reading between the lines this could mean a new era for Al Jazeera and Turkey where the channel will seek new allies and give its backing to old friends. Maybe they think Qatari-Saudi relations would be a better bet. One hypothesis is that new alliances will start to appear as many have recently started to worry that Erdogan’s ambition is somehow incontrollable. Some have even said that he already sees himself standing on the Castle of Aleppo, delivering a speech to what is called the Sunni’s world (a symbolic reference to the era of the Ottoman Empire).
This would justify the latest doubts regarding the Turkish desire to back up the Islamic parties to catch power in most of the Arab countries.
The imminent future will be filled with new moves, tactics, politics and behavior. Maybe there will be less pressure on the Syrian regime. Perhaps we’ll see a convergence of Iranian-Qatari relations? Some critical voices to the Qatari role in Libya could represent a foreshadowing of a coming conflict in the future among many protagonists of the political arena.
It’s possible, but above all, we Jordanians should analyze changes carefully in order to guarantee a vital role, solid position and rebuilding of our political alliances based on our national interests.
October 8th, 2011, 9:51 pm
Ali said:
Nine Security Personnel Martyred, 26 Injured in Clashes with Terrorist Groups in Hama
Oct 09, 2011
HAMA, (SANA)- Nine security members, including a first lieutenant, were martyred, 26 others were injured in clashes on Saturday with armed terrorist groups in al-Mazareb area in Hama governorate.
An official source told SANA correspondent that a security forces patrol suspected the presence of armed groups stationed in one of the farms in the mentioned area.
“When the patrol members took a move to arrest the gunmen, they opened fire on the security personnel using machine guns and handmade grenades, and a clash erupted, which” the source added, “resulted in the martyrdom of nine security members and the injury of 26 others.”
The source pointed out that the security forces managed to arrest the armed groups’ members and seize large amounts of machine guns, ammunition and handmade grenades.
October 8th, 2011, 9:57 pm
Tara said:
SNK
Nearly 40 percent of your posts are about Tara and the rest is about Aboud. Let me make it easy for you: stop obsessing about me. GIVE UP! I have no interest in carrying a conversation, an argument, or a discussion with you. None whatsoever. Sorry but you just do not interest me. Ok?
And by the way if you wrote down every single thought you ever had you would get an award for the shortest story ever.
And by just way, mehshi is not my only speciality, just an FYI.
October 8th, 2011, 9:57 pm
ann said:
Syrian General: Syria will Firmly Confront Destabilization
09/10/2011
http://www.dp-news.com/en/detail.aspx?articleid=99197
DAMASCUS- on Saturday, Minister of Defense Gen. Dawood Rajiha said that events taking place in Syria are not new; rather they are an expansion of challenges throughout the past few years including calls for foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs with the aim of destroying the homeland and making it give up its principles.
“The war being launched against Syria has been manifested in different forms, particularly through the media fabrication of facts with the aim of misleading the public opinion and the exploitation of the UN and all the international forums to open the door to foreign interference under the pretext of human rights and defending freedom and democracy,” added Gen. Rajiha, Deputy General Commander of the Army and the Armed Forces.
Gen. Rajiha was speaking at the graduation ceremony of a new batch of students from the Military Academy, representing President Bashar al-Assad, General Commander of the Army and the Armed Forces.
The Minister pointed out that the conspirators depended on operational tools on the ground, which are represented by armed terrorist groups integrated by criminals who have been targeting military cadres and scientific and intellectual figures, in addition to spreading chaos and sabotage.
He underlined that the current events will not prevent the political leadership from going forward in the reform and development process through a wide package of laws and decrees which would enable Syria to become at the forefront of democracy in the region.
“Going ahead with the reform package, we will firmly confront all those who want to tamper with the security, stability and unity of the homeland,” the Minister added.
October 8th, 2011, 9:58 pm
Ali said:
Reports state that the authorities in Homs governorate on Saturday morning dismantled an explosive device containing 5 kilograms of TNT.
The device was planted near the “old garage” turnabout opposite the Mills Establishment branch on the main road to Hama, a location known for heavy traffic.
The military engineering units in Homs also dismantled a number of handmade explosive devices planted by armed terrorist groups in different places in al-Rastan area.
The devices, of different shapes and sizes, were distributed randomly in the middle or on the side of some roads, in agricultural lands and near housing buildings.
The explosive devices were equipped with a timer in order to kill the largest number of people and cause wide damage to public and private properties.
October 8th, 2011, 10:01 pm
Chris W said:
Interesting that Iraq supports the Syrian gov’t. Presumably they can see what Turkey cannot, that the collapse of Syria would be horrific for her people and her neighbours. Only one ‘interested party’ stands to benefit (although real peace would benefit them more, if only they weren’t too blind to see), whom the Iraqis would recognise…
October 8th, 2011, 10:31 pm
ann said:
Palestinians Pursue Backdoor Statehood Strategy – October 7, 2011
http://www.algemeiner.com/2011/10/07/palestinians-pursue-backdoor-statehood-strategy/#
With a bid for full recognition of statehood still sitting in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the UN’s Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) gave its initial approval to recognize Palestine as a member state. The move is an attempt to bypass a UNSC veto of Palestinian statehood by the United States, but will also result in an end in American aid to UNESCO.
Against the will of the United States and several European countries, UNESCO’s 58-nation executive board approved recognition of Palestine as a full-fledged member of the group. The recognition also automatically grants acknowledgment of a Palestinian state, as a necessary criterion for membership in UNESCO. In effect, Wednesday’s move would mean that Palestine would be deemed a state in some of the UN’s affiliate organizations, without any formal recognition by the UN’s governing body.
If UNESCO’s full membership approves the Palestinian bid, the body’s stance will be in direct contravention of American law. Existing legislation mandates a cutoff of money to any UN agency that grants “full membership as a state to any organization or group that does not have the internationally recognized attributes of statehood.”
Currently, the United States provides 22% of UNESCO’s funding.
“Membership would allow Palestinian officials to seek the protection of Palestinian historical sites by the cultural organization,” which “would create further conflict with Israel,” The New York Times reports. “For instance, some of those sites are in east Jerusalem, which Israel has annexed.”
“We hope and pray that the Unesco authorities will realize — and the Palestinians will realize — that there is a very high price to be paid, in American participation in Unesco,” said Nimrod Barkan, the Israeli ambassador.
October 8th, 2011, 10:31 pm
ghufran said:
Tara,
the Kurdish parties have not yet pointed a finger at who might be responsible for Timmo’s murder. some Kurds accused the regime but some accused Turkey. One may also point out to the possibility of an inside job. I hope the truth will come out,I find it hard to believe that the regime,desperate to divide the opposition,will kill a guy who was a moderate Kurd by all standards and was opposed to foreign intervention.
Idiots in the security and Shabeeha establishment are able to commit that crime but it is just does not make sense,Haytham may have convinced you but I am still skeptical.
The current environment in Syria is perfect for revenge and assassinations. Anybody who gets killed will be considered a martyr and either the regime or the opposition will be blamed. I expect more assassinations and I am afraid the targets will include ordinary citizens and moderate figures on both sides who are standing in the way of the extreme elements in Syria.
October 8th, 2011, 10:42 pm
louai said:
THE KURDISH FLAG !!
Seven arrested in Syrian embassy protest in London
(AFP) – 10 hours ago
LONDON — Police said Saturday they had arrested seven protesters outside the Syrian embassy in London, including three men who climbed onto the roof of the building and waved the Kurdish flag.
The trio were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after mounting the roof of the entrance of the embassy, where they waved the red, white and green Kurdish flag with a sun emblem on it, according to television pictures.
They did not breach the security of the building, a police spokesman said.
Three other men and a woman were also held for criminal damage as about 50-60 people joined a protest outside the embassy, he added.
The demonstration coincided with a mass rally in Syria against the regime of Bashar al-Assad. About 50,000 people gathered for the funeral of Meshaal Tamo, a Kurdish opposition figure killed on Friday.
Syrian security forces killed at least two mourners and wounded several others when they fired on the crowd in the city of Qamishli, activists said.
A demonstration was also held at the Syrian embassy in Vienna, where 11 people were arrested for invading the building and protesting on the embassy balcony overnight, Austrian police said.
Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jI-sXMcZJblcUDr_SYhMm1mwIGyw?docId=CNG.35938e723ad2fcbcb70c6292de0e98b4.1e1
October 8th, 2011, 10:43 pm
ghufran said:
Jordan yesterday
عمان- ‘القدس العربي’ ـ من بسام البدارين: شهدت الساحة الأردنية الجمعة نقطة تحول دراماتيكية في مسار الحراك السياسي بالشارع، عند نزول الجبهة الوطنية للإصلاح برئاسة المخضرم أحمد عبيدات لأول مرة إلى الشارع للتظاهر كتفا إلى كتف مع قادة حركة الأخوان المسلمين.
وسيمنح هذا التشابك غير المسبوق بين مجموعة عبيدات، كرمز وطني كبير يطالب به الشارع عمليا، وبين التيار الإسلامي، زخما إضافيا لمسيرات الحراك الشعبي التي تطالب علنا بإصلاح النظام، حيث ظهر عبيدات رئيس الوزراء ومدير المخابرات الأسبق جنبا إلى جنب في مسيرة ضخمة وسط عمان بعد صلاة ظهر الجمعة.
ويعكس هذا الظهور تقاربا لافتا حصل في الفترة الأخيرة بين عبيدات والإسلاميين، حيث يسير الطرفان باتجاه التوحد في برنامج عمل سياسي معارض يعزز الإصلاح وهو ما لا يعجب المعارض البارز ليث شبيلات، الذي دعا الأردنيين الخميس وقبل مغادرته البلاد في رحلة خاصة، كما تردد إلى تجاهل ‘أصنام المعارضة’ على اعتبار أنهم جزء من المشكلة والحصول على أوراق الاعتماد من مجموعات الشباب في الشارع.
ويعتقد على نطاق سياسي واسع أن كلام شبيلات يتقصد نخب المعارضة التقليدية في التيار الإسلامي والجبهة الوطنية للإصلاح. لكن الجديد في مشهد الحراك ان الجبهة الوطنية للإصلاح، وهي الإطار الذي يقوده عبيدات منذ أشهر دعت الجمهور هي بنفسها لأول مرة الى تظاهرة سلمية وسط عمان تطالب بأن يصلح النظام نفسه.
ومن الواضح ان بصمات عبيدات وكبار أركان جماعة الأخوان المسلمين في مسيرات الجمعة ساهمت في زيادة جرعة الحماسة في الشارع، فارتفع سقف الهتافات وتجاوز الكثير من الخطوط التي كانت تسمى حمراء في الماضي، حيث انطلقت بالتوازي مسيرات واعتنصامات بنكهة الإسلاميين وعبيدات في سبع محافظات على الأقل.
وعبرت هذه الحماسة عن نفسها ببيان يحدد بالاسم قائمة سوداء لفاسدين كبار يطالب الشعب بمحاكمتهم وهتافات ضد الحكومة الحالية والبرلمان من طراز’ عالسكراب.. عالسكراب .. البخيت والنواب’ والسكراب في اللهجة الدارجة هو المكان المخصص لبيع الخردة والماكينات المتعطلة.
كما استعار الحراك عبارة اشتهرت بسورية تقول بصوت جماعي’الموت ولا المذلة’.
وتم إطلاق اسم ‘جمعة اجتثاث الفساد والبلطجية’ على مسيرات واعتصامات الجمعة، في الوقت الذي تترقب فيه الأوساط السياسية المحلية ‘خطوات الملك’ بعد استقالة خمسة أعضاء من مجلس الأعيان فضلوا الاحتفاظ بجنسيتهم الثانية بدلا من البقاء في الموقع العام، امتثالا لنص دستوري جديد يمنع ولاية مزدوجي الجنسية أثار ولا زال يثير عاصفة من الجدل.
ولم يعرف بعد سقف الخطوات الملكية المقبلة وسط توقعات بإعادة تشكيل مجلس الأعيان وحرب فتاوى دستورية يشارك بها فقهاء القانون، وكانت أبرزها الفتوى التي حظر فيها مرجع قانوني مهم، هو الدكتور محمد الحموري، على مزدوجي الجنسية الاحتفاظ بمواقعهم الوزارية والعامة حتى لو تنازلوا عن جنسياتهم الأخرى، فيما أعلنت وزارة الخارجية أن السفارات الأجنبية غير ملزمة بفتح بيانات معلومات رعاياها للتدقيق في جنسياتهم امتثالا للنص الدستوري الجديد.
October 8th, 2011, 10:55 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
الشباب الكورد في ( ديريك)
================
تدعو جميع جماهير ديرك للخروج في مظاهرة جماهيرية وذلك يوم الأحد 2011/10/9 الساعة العاشرة صباحاً احتجاجاً واستنكاراً لاغتيال المناضل الكوردي المعارض مشعل تمو وشهداء تشييع جنازته …. واثناء تشييع جنازته تم اطلاق النار على المشيعين من قبل اجهزة النظام وسقط شهيدان جديدان وعدد من الجرحى….. لقد تمادى النظام في القمع والقتل والأرهاب وآن وقت رحيل…ه….
October 8th, 2011, 11:27 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
سؤال غير برىء من مواطن يريد أن يكون بريئاً: لماذا تم تشييع سارية حسون بجنازة رسمية، وصورته كاميرات احترافية. ولماذا يشيع مشعل التمو تحت إطلاق رصاص الأمن على المشيعين، وتصور جنازته بكاميرات الجوالات.مع أن الشهيدين قتلا برصاص العصابات المسلحة كما تقول قنوات الاعلام الصادق (اي القناة السورية وقناة الدنيا.؟؟؟؟؟)
October 8th, 2011, 11:30 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
Dear Ghufran@202:
This was the second attempt on Mishaal Tammo life. Further, the perpetrator of his killing sabotaged the procession of his funeral by killing two and wounding many, which means they are not afraid of any pursuit or punishment or rather above any pursuit and punishment. I leave the rest of the interpretation for you.
October 8th, 2011, 11:35 pm
SALAH ADDIN said:
TARA
The way I see it, SNK was not impressed with your analysis/opinion that Tammo was assassinated by government/regime operatives.
Ghufran and others have provided more compelling arguments on why not to jump to such conclusions as yours.
SNK must have been more impressed by your description of your stuffed grape leaves, which by the way sounded delicious, than your opinion on who are Mr. Tammo’s killers.
I am sure you can take the heat, and that is why you can stay in the proverbial kitchen.
If SNK were obsessed and fascinated by anyone, it would be 3ar3oor and his meat grinder, and REVLON and his fatiha and Damascus not to become Kandahar.
You have been a prolific poster but most of your recipes must be taken with a grain of salt.
Just a thought.
October 8th, 2011, 11:40 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
اضرب
October 8th, 2011, 11:43 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
جنازة مهيبة للشهيد المعارض مشعل تمو 8-10-201
October 8th, 2011, 11:46 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
مشعل تمو وداعا يا بطل
October 8th, 2011, 11:51 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
عامودا تدمير صنم المجرم الكبير حافظ الأسد 8-10-2011
October 8th, 2011, 11:57 pm
Haytham Khoury said:
لقطات من تشييع الشهيد مشعل التموالثورة السورية شباب الدرباسية
October 9th, 2011, 12:00 am
Haytham Khoury said:
لقصير 8/10 العرب والأكراد إيد واحدة ويلعن روحك ياحافظ
October 9th, 2011, 12:02 am
Haytham Khoury said:
سندس سليمان
الان ومنذ 10 دقائق فقط عدت من امام السفارة السورية في برلين (ليلية السبت الموافق 8/10/2011 )
حيث قامت مجموعة من السوريين باقتحام مبنى السفارة السورية في برلين بعد ان استطاعوا خلع الباب الرئيسي للسفارة ودخلوا داخل المبنى الذي تشبه مناعته مناعة القصور وقاموا بتمزيق جميع صور المجرم بشار الاسد التي كانت معلقة على جدران السفارة وكان السفير موجود حيث يقيم وعائلته في الطابق العلوي من مبنى السفارة وصعد … الشباب اليه في الطابق العلوي وصبوا جام غضبهم عليه وجها لوجه نعتوه بانه خائن وانه عميل الاستبداد ولم ينبث السفير ببنت شفة بل وقف مطأطأ الرأس ووجهه الى الارض وقد قام شباب اخرون بتوثيق كل ماحدث واكيد ستنشر الصور والفيديوهات في مواقع متعددة وبعدها جاءت مدرعات من البوليس الالماني الذي تعامل بمنتهى الانسانية خاصة بعدما اخبرهم الشباب بانهم لايريدون ان يتسببوا باية حالة عنف ، ثم طلب البوليس منهم الخروج فخرجوا بعد مشاورات بعد ان كانت جميع صور بشار الاسد ممزقة في الارض ووضع علم الاستقلال على الجدران وبعد خروج الشباب الى خارج المبنى بقوا حوالي ساعتين يهتفون لشهداء سورية مؤكدين على وحدة الشع…
October 9th, 2011, 12:05 am
zoo said:
Tara
It does look that the blog is falling again in the teenager’s
game playing that you have been missing and calling for. Have a good laugh with your friends.
October 9th, 2011, 12:16 am
Tara said:
Salah
Good job. Not bad at all. I liked the style. I must admit I do not read all posts on SC and I’ve not read you before. I run a painfully busy life… In the kitchen that is… I will add you to the list of posters I read.
October 9th, 2011, 12:18 am
ann said:
Christians fear Islamist pressure in Egypt – 9 hrs ago
http://news.yahoo.com/christians-fear-islamist-pressure-egypt-164823245.html
CAIRO (AP) — On her first day to school, 15-year-old Christian student Ferial Habib was stopped at the doorstep of her new high school with clear instructions: either put on a headscarf or no school this year.
Habib refused. While most Muslim women in Egypt wear the headscarf, Christians do not, and the move by administrators to force a Christian student to don it was unprecedented. For the next two weeks, Habib reported to school in the southern Egyptian village of Sheik Fadl every day in her uniform, without the head covering, only to be turned back by teachers.
One day, Habib heard the school loudspeakers echoing her name and teachers with megaphones leading a number of students in chants of “We don’t want Ferial here,” the teenager told The Associated Press.
October 9th, 2011, 12:19 am
Tara said:
Zoo
Where were you all day?
October 9th, 2011, 12:20 am
bronco said:
#72. Tara
“I would have liked if Robert Ford attend Mashaal Tamo funeral service. No?”
I would have liked that too. But Heckle was too scared as many Kurds are not particularly friendly with an ally of Turkey and many support Bashar Al Assad. Hillary told him not to.
He better stick to Moslem Brotherhood’s funerals. They are in the best terms with Hillary these days.
Anyway now he got his confirmation, he can take it easy and go to the Opera instead.
October 9th, 2011, 12:29 am
Tara said:
Bronco
It would be interesting to watch Ford\’s activities from now on to see if his “heroic” visits were indeed a show he put to the congress to get
confirmed.
Whyvare youbsaying Giath Matar was MB? You have any evidence? Also did you read Ann\’s link in 218? It said that itbis rare case in Egypt. I hope the government take it seriously and fire the teachers responsible.
I am just curious, do they force Christian girls in Iran to ware the hijab too?
October 9th, 2011, 12:39 am
Ali said:
During a funeral in the city of Duma terrorists fired at the mourners and attacked a law enforcement checkpoint located in the neighborhood… An eight-year old child was martyred. 3 law enforcement personnel injured.
A pro-government family was found slaughtered by the terrorists in the city of Taftanaz… The father, the mother and their three children.They were all slaughtered as a punishment because of their support for the Syrian president Bashar Al-Asad.
October 9th, 2011, 12:39 am
Ghufran said:
Haytham,
I am just tired of all the lies,the polarization and the killings. The question is not whether we need to change the regime or not,the question is how.
The other issue is how to handle armed thugs who are loyal to whoever pays more. The old story that every murder in Syria is committed by the government is not believable any more.
الله يرحم الشهيد مشعل و يلعن من قتله أيا كان
October 9th, 2011, 1:07 am
Haytham Khoury said:
تكريس مفهوم الانتماء الوطني السوري في الوعي والسلوك الاجتماعي من خلال تمتيـن أواصر الإخوة التاريخية والشراكة بين كافة قوميات ومكونات المجتمع السوري, وان يكــــون الحوار السياسي السلمي طريقا وحيدا لبناء الوحدة الوطنية كحاضنة للتنافس السياسي الحر .
من أواخر ما قال الشهيد البطل مشعل تمو .. غفر الله له وأسكنه فسيح جناته .
October 9th, 2011, 1:07 am
Haytham Khoury said:
حيوا الثوار العرب من صنعاء الى حلب – توكل كرمان
October 9th, 2011, 1:09 am
Haytham Khoury said:
Write a comment…
Nadia Carlos
انت مسلم ..مسيحي ..ام انسان ?
هل تعتبر نفسك في المقام الاول مسلم اومسيحي او من باقي الاديان الاخرى ، اوانسان ?
هل تعتبر انتماؤك الى الدين اولا اوالى الانسانيه في المقام الاول ، ثم الدين ?
ان الاجابه تحدد مدى رؤيتك للعالم والتفاعل مع الأخرين ، اذا كان انتماؤك انساني باديء الامر ، سوف تحترم حقوق الآخرين بغض النظر عن اديانهم ، اما اذا اعتبرت الانتماء الديني اهم من كل شيء اخر ، وتفضل الشخص الذي يشاركك نفس المذهب الديني ، وحتى ان كان ليس من مواطني بلدك ، على الشخص الذي تجمعك معه صلة المواطنه وحب الوطن ، اذن انك تكون اخترت السير بطريق تسوده المخاطر الطائفية والكره للأخر ، وسترى نفسك وحيدا مع تعصبك المذهبي وستتورط ربما في نهايته في العنف والكره والاقصاء !
October 9th, 2011, 1:12 am
Haytham Khoury said:
اغتال شبيحة النظام الاسدي باوامر من اسيادهم المناضل الكردي السوري مشعل التمو ,في جنازة تشييعه خرج مائة الف عربي وكردي واشوري يهتفون بسقوط نظام الاسد وبسلمية الثورة وبالتاخي بين الاديان والقوميات.
هذه هي ثورة الشعب السوري السلمية التي ستطيح بالطغاة والارهابيين الدمويين وتبني سورية الجديدة الديمقراطية المدنية الحرة
October 9th, 2011, 1:14 am
Haytham Khoury said:
لى من تبقى من شرفاء في منتصف الطريق
by Rafik Helou on Saturday, October 8, 2011 at 4:27pm
ليت الخائفين يلزمون الصمت، عوضا عن أن يضعوا في أفواهم تفاهات النظام
مثل الخطر الأسلامي ،المؤامرة على سورية، الحرب الأهلية، الاقتتال الطائفي،
و خطر الفراغ السياسي، و ليتهم يكفون عن إتهام كل من يحاول شيئا بالمتاجرة بالثورة
..
نحن نفهم الخوف، و من أجدر منا بفهم هذا الشعور الذي يجتاح الإنسان
حتى أصغر خلاياه؟ ومن منا لا يفهم أن يكون المرء مهددا في لقمة عيشه وحياة عائلته
وفي وجوده ككل, من قبل نظام من أشرس الأنظمة الديكتاتوريه التي عرفتها البشرية؟
..
و لأننا نفهم الخوف و إن كنا قد كسرناه، فنحن نطلب من الخائفين السكوت لبعض من
الوقت، و من المؤكد ان الشعب سيقدر لهم كل موقف أخذوه يوما ما ضد هذا النظام ،
بالكلمة أو بالفعل. عليهم أن يختاروا الأن، بين تخليد مواقفهم وتضحياتهم السابقة في سجل
النضال الطويل الذي مهّد للثورة, أو الدخول في قوائم العار للذين ساندوا النظام بشكل
مباشر, أو بشكل ملتو بغيض قائم على التخويين والتشكيك و احباط العزائم و المغالطات التي لم تعد تقنع حتى اصحابها
..
يعرف القاصي و الداني، والمواطن البسيط قبل المثقف، ويعرف النظام نفسه,
أن هذا النظام لا يُحاوَر، وأنه ماض في القتل الى أن يسقط
..
يعرف القاصي و الداني، والمواطن البسيط قبل المثقف ، أن هذا النظام لو
تركته في مكانه ألف عام، لن يحرر الأرض، لن يبني نهضة، لن يضمن مستقبل أطفال، و لن
يقيم اقتصادا يحصننا ضد المؤامرات
..
يعرف القاصي و الداني، والمواطن البسيط قبل
المثقف ، أن لا خوف من الفراغ السياسي لاننا نعيش الفراغ السياسي ، فبعد أن ألغى كل
أشكال السياسة ، عزف النظام نفسه عن السياسة ،و لم يعد يكلف نفسه عناء الأدلجة، فغابت
عقيدة البعث إلا في المناسبات، وصار يحكم بالجزمة ، وبالجزمة وحدها
..
يعرف القاصي و الداني، أن مشكلة الطائفية لا تحل بالإبقاء على النظام
الذي زرعها و أستثمرها
..
كان النظام وما يزال هو أكبر مؤامرة حُبِكَتْ لإبقاء هذا الوطن ضعيفا،
منقسما، مقعدا، تابعا و مهددا، و الشعب مسلوب الحقوق ومنتهك الكرامة و فاقد الثقة
في قدراته.
كانت المؤامرة، و ما زالت ، هي النظام، هذا النظام.
أقبعوا في خوفكم واتركوا شباب هذه الثورة يبنون غدا أخر . الغد الذي
عقدوا العزم على دفع ثمنه من دمائهم. مغالطاتكم قد تأخر مسيرة الثورة بعض الشيء ،
و ولكنها ماضية الى غايتها بكم أو بدونكم. و هذا المارد لن يعود الى فانوسه يوما ..وهو لم
يخرج منه لتحقيق رغباتكم..بل رغباته
..
وهو ما لم تفهموه بعد
October 9th, 2011, 1:15 am
Revlon said:
رياض الشقفة: لم نسمع من تركيا إلا تصريحات.. ونريد أفعالا أقلها الاعتراف بالمجلس الوطني وطرد السفير السوري
2011/10/09
الشرق الأوسط
http://www.sooryoon.net/?p=34994
تجهد حركة «الإخوان المسلمين» في إبعاد تهمة «التطرف» التي تقول إن النظام يلصقها بها ويستعملها كـ«فزاعة» لإخافة الآخرين وقطع الطريق على الإخوان. ويؤكد مراقبها العام رياض الشقفة أن الإخوان حركة «تنبذ العنف» وتطالب بدولة مدنية في سوريا وبأنها ستخضع لنتائج العملية الديمقراطية، معتبرا أنه «حتى الغرب بدأ يكتشف الآن أن التخويف من الإخوان كان فبركة».
ورأى أن «الغرب يريد الآن أن يسمع الرأي في الإخوان من الإخوان أنفسهم بعد كان يسمع الرأي من الآخرين». لكنه نفى وجود حوار مع الولايات المتحدة حتى الآن، متحدثا عن حوار غير مباشر مع الاتحاد الأوروبي.
وأكد الشقفة في حوار أجرته معه «الشرق الأوسط» في مقر إقامته في اسطنبول: «إن حركة الإخوان لم تختلف عن الثمانينات»، معتبرا أن أحداث حماه «كانت استثناء»، قائلا: «ما جرى كان عدوانا من النظام علينا. لم نكن من افتعل العنف، كانت مرحلة استثنائية اعتدي فيها علينا وجرى ما جرى من أحداث». وشدد على عدم واقعية «المخاوف لدى الأقليات من وصول الإسلاميين إلى السلطة»، طالبا من البطريرك الماروني بشارة الراعي أن «يقرأ التاريخ حتى يعرف كيف أن المسلمين متسامحون مع بقية الطوائف».
وأكد الشقفة أنه لا وجود تنظيميا للإخوان في سوريا، قائلا: «لا وجود لنا على الأرض تنظيميا. نحن فقط داعمون. قد يكون أنصارنا مشاركين مع الناس، نحن جزء من هذا الحراك، لكننا لا نتواجد تنظيميا على الأرض. مؤكدا أن التحذير من وصول الإخوان إلى السلطة هو «من فبركات النظام وكل الأنظمة الديكتاتورية الذين يحاولون إرضاء الغرب بإخافته بالإسلاميين. مؤكدا أن الإخوان مع دولة مدنية يكون فيها أي مواطن جزءا من المجتمع مهما يكن دينه، وله حقوقه وعليه واجباته، وله حريته في ممارسة شعائره. كاشفا عن اتفاق داخل الإخوان، مفاده أنه حتى لو نالوا الأكثرية في المستقبل وحق لهم أن يحكموا وحدهم، فلن يفعلوا بل سيتشاركون مع الجميع حتى يشعر كل واحد أنه يشارك في الحكم. وفيما يأتي نص الحوار:
* كيف تنظرون إلى مجريات الأمور في سوريا؟
– أنا متفائل جدا بأن الانتفاضة السورية سوف تصل إلى أهدافها، وقناعتي هذه نابعة من إصرار الشعب السوري. الشباب لن يعودوا إلى بيوتهم إلا بعد تحقيق ما يصبون إليه. فالشعب مصر، رغم كل القتل والقمع على عدم التراجع لأن «الرجعة فجعة»، فالرجوع لن ينتج إلا زيادة في القتل والتنكيل والإرهاب الذي يمارسه هذا النظام.
أملنا هو الاستمرار في المظاهرات السلمية، ونؤكد على كلمة السلمية.
* ما هي خططكم لإسقاط النظام؟ نحو 7 أشهر مرت الآن ولم تحققوا ما تصبون إليه؟
– هناك بعض المؤشرات، كالانشقاقات التي تحصل في الجيش. في الجيش شرفاء كثر، وكلما زاد القمع زاد ظهورهم. وأنا أتوقع أن تزداد تلك الانشقاقات مع استمرار القمع. لسنا نحن من فجر هذه الثورة، فالشعب هو من فعل، وإصراره سيسقط النظام إن شاء الله.
* أنتم، الإخوان المسلمين، كنتم العنوان الرئيسي الذي حمله النظام مسؤولية التحركات..
– لا وجود لنا على الأرض تنظيميا. نحن فقط داعمون. قد يكون أنصارنا مشاركين مع الناس نحن جزء من هذا الحراك، لكننا لا نتواجد تنظيميا على الأرض. وكل ما نقوم به هو الدعم السياسي والمعنوي والإعلامي، ونقوم بالدعاء، وأحيانا بعض الدعم اللوجستي. فالناس التي تنتفض على النظام بحاجة إلى من يشد أزرها. هناك آلاف الشهداء والمعتقلين والمهجرين، وعوائلهم بحاجة إلى الدعم لكي يعيشوا وترتفع معنوياتهم. لا يوجد أكثر من هذا. فلا تنظيم لدينا في الداخل لكي ننظم ونقود وما إلى هنالك.
* المقربون من النظام يحذرون من وصولكم إلى السلطة، فهل هم محقون في ذلك؟
– هذا من فبركات النظام وكل الأنظمة الديكتاتورية الذين يحاولون إرضاء الغرب بإخافته بالإسلاميين. وهذه الفبركات انتهى دورها ولم تعد تنطلي على احد. نحن منذ عام 2004 أصدرنا برنامجا سياسيا حول كيفية الحكم في سوريا وأي بلد آخر. نحن مع دولة مدنية يكون فيها أي مواطن جزءا من المجتمع مهما يكن دينه، وله حقوقه وعليه واجباته، وله حريته في ممارسة شعائره. وحتى لو أخذنا الأكثرية في المستقبل وحق لنا أن نحكم لوحدنا، لن نفعل، بل سنتشارك مع الجميع حتى يشعر كل واحد أنه يشارك في الحكم، وهذا متفق عليه. حتى الغرب بدأ يكتشف الآن أن التخويف من الإخوان كان فبركة. الغرب يريد الآن أن يسمع الرأي في الإخوان من الإخوان أنفسهم. في البدء كان يسمع الرأي من الآخرين والآن يريد الغرب أن يسمع من الإخوان مباشرة.
* تقول إن موضوع الحكم متفق عليه، مع من؟
– هذا متفق عليه من داخل الإخوان. نحن الفزاعة، وهذه الفزاعة رأيها أن لا تقصي أحدا، وأن تتعامل مع جميع المواطنين على نفس السوية. هذا رأي الإخوان الذين يخوفون الناس منهم وبهم.
* هل من اتصالات مع الولايات المتحدة أو دول الغرب الأخرى؟
– لا يوجد اتصالات مع الولايات المتحدة أو حوار حتى اليوم. هناك حوار يجري مع الغرب من ضمن جمعية سويسرية للحوار الإنساني. هذه الجمعية تعمل على الحوار بين الإخوان والغرب. وقد طلبت هذه الجمعية من كل فريق من الإخوان حول العالم إرسال مندوب. وقد فعلنا. وتجري هذه الجمعية حوارات حول فكر الغرب والإخوان. لكن لا يوجد اتصالات مباشرة مع الغرب.
* ما الذي اختلف في الإخوان منذ أحداث الثمانينات وحتى اليوم؟
– حركة الإخوان لم تختلف، أحداث الثمانينات حالة استثنائية. الإخوان منذ إنشائها على يد الدكتور مصطفى السباعي رحمه الله، هي حركة منفتحة على المجتمع. في العهود الديمقراطية شاركت في الانتخابات ودخلت في المجالس النيابية.
موضوع الديمقراطية أصيل عندنا.
أكثر من ذلك، في حماه اذكر أن قائمة الإخوان المسلمين كان فيها شخص مسيحي يدعى إيلي نصور كان ينزل في القائمة دائما.
ما جرى في الثمانينات كان عدوانا من النظام علينا.
لم نكن من افتعل العنف، كانت مرحلة استثنائية اعتدي فيها علينا وجرى ما جرى من أحداث.
الآن نحن كما كان منشئ الحركة منفتحون على دولة مدنية، وملتزمون العملية الديمقراطية أي نقبل بنتائج الانتخابات، وننبذ العنف.
* أتقول أن وثيقة عام 2004 ليست انعطافة في تاريخ الإخوان؟
– ليست انعطافة، بل تأكيد. قد لا تكون هناك دراسات جديدة حول هذا الموضوع، لكن مؤسس الحركة كانت لديه كتابات كثيرة في هذا الموضوع.
* يقال إن الأقليات في سوريا ستكون في خطر في حال وصول الإسلاميين فيها إلى السلطة؟
– الطوائف الأخرى، هم شركاؤنا في الوطن.
كما ذكرت سابقا عن النائب ايلي نصور الذي انتخب في حماه، علما أن حماه منذ الأساس هي مدينة متدينة حتى إنه كان يقال إن أعضاء حزب البعث فيها هم «إخوان مسلمين»، بمعنى أن التدين كان طاغيا فيها. لكني لم أكن أشعر أيام الديمقراطيات أن جاري كان مسيحيا.
والدي كان شيخ الشافعية في حماه، وقد تعرفت على مطران حماه في منزلنا. كان يزورنا في عيدنا ونزوره في أعيادهم.
من أوجد الشرخ هو هذا النظام، وأنا أظن أنه لو حكم الإسلاميون ستعود روح التسامح إلى المجتمع.
ومنذ فترة قريبة عقدنا في القاهرة ندوة شارك فيها مسيحيون وعلويون، وأصدرنا بيانا مشتركا لهذه الغاية نؤكد فيه على التعايش بين الطوائف وأننا كلنا أبناء وطن واحد لا تفرقة بيننا.
* لكن هناك مخاوف وهذا ما عبر عنه المسيحيون، وتحديدا البطريرك الماروني بشارة الراعي وبطريرك الروم الأرثوذكس أغناطيوس الرابع هزيم! – أنا أطلب من البطريرك الراعي أن يقرأ التاريخ حتى يعرف كيف أن المسلمين متسامحون مع بقية الطوائف. هذا النظام هو من كرس الطائفية.
* ألا ترى أن مخاوف الطوائف الأخرى مبررة؟
– ليست مبررة. النظام يريد أن يخيف الآخرين لقطع الطريق على الإخوان.
* لماذا برأيكم يتخذ المسيحيون هذا الموقف؟
– لا أعرف، هذا ما يجب أن يسألوا عنه. لو جرى بيننا حوار لقلنا لهم إنه ليس هناك ما يبرر هذه المخاوف. وأتمنى أن يجري بيننا حوار. فارس الخوري كان أهم رؤساء الوزراء في سوريا وقد كان رئيسا للحكومة 3 مرات. ولأنه كان كفوءا، فقد قدمه المسلمون عليهم في السلطة.
* ما هي دقة ما يشاع عن انقسامات وخلافات في داخل الإخوان؟
– لا يوجد انقسامات. الخلاف في الرأي طبيعي في كل الأحزاب والتنظيمات. لكن في نهاية المطاف المرجعية هي مجلس الشورى وما يقرره نسير عليه جميعا.
* ما هي طبيعة العلاقة بين الإخوان في سوريا وبقية التنظيمات الإخوانية؟
– هي علاقة تكامل وتشاور وتنسيق وتبادل الأفكار، لكن لا يوجد بيننا روابط تنظيمية.
* وماذا عن العلاقة مع تركيا التي يقال إنكم حصانها الأسود؟
– نحن لسنا حصانا لأحد.
قرارنا مستقل، ونتعاون مع الجميع ومنفتحون عليهم.
هناك حوارات بيننا وبين الأتراك، ينصحوننا ونضعهم في صورة أوضاعنا لا أكثر.
لا أحد يستطيع أن يلزمنا برأي ومرجعنا الوحيد مجلس الشورى، وهم لم يحاولوا أن يفرضوا علينا شيئا.
* ما الذي تستطيع تركيا أن تقوم به بالنسبة للوضع السوري؟
– نحن نستمع إلى تصريحات رئيس الوزراء رجب طيب أردوغان بأن النظام في سوريا فقد شرعيته وبأن الوضع في سوريا قضية داخلية.
لكننا لم نر بعد شيئا على أرض الواقع. نتمنى على الأتراك القيام بنشاط دبلوماسي لتأمين الدعم للشعب السوري.
ونتمنى أن تقوم تركيا بالعمل على عزل هذا النظام، فلا يجوز أن يبقى نظام يقتل شعبه ممثلا في المجتمع الدولي كأي نظام آخر.
يجب على الدول أن تسحب سفراءها وتعزل هذا النظام حتى يتوقف عن عمليات القتل. بقاء الدول متفرجة وإطلاق تصريحات ليس لها أي ترجمة على أرض الواقع أمر لم يعد مقبولا.
* ما هو وضع المعارضة السورية الآن بعد إنشاء المجلس الوطني؟
– هذا المجلس كان مطلبا وطنيا داخليا، ومطلبا دوليا أيضا. الشعب السوري كان يلح على المعارضة للتوحد، والمطلوب من المجلس الوطني أن يتحرك لدعم الثورة في العالم بقوة. كانت الوفود السورية التي تذهب إلى دول العالم تواجه بنداء واحد هو «اتفقوا وتوحدوا» الآن وقد فعلنا هذا، سنرى مصداقية الدول التي كانت تطالب بوحدة المعارضة.
* ما هو المطلوب من هذه الدول؟
– أن تعترف أولا بالمجلس الوطني، فهذا من شأنه أن يرفع معنويات الشعب ويؤثر على معنويات النظام سلبا.
* تريدون الاعتراف بالمجلس ممثلا شرعيا ووحيدا؟
– نعم، ممثلا شرعيا ووحيدا للشعب السوري. فهذه الدول تقول إن النظام فقد شرعيته، فمن إذن يمثل الشعب فيه؟ لنضرب مثلا تركيا، كونها الجارة وأقرب الناس إلى سوريا. أردوغان قال أكثر من مرة إن النظام فقد شرعيته. نحن نقول للأتراك إننا فعلنا ما علينا بتوحيد المعارضة وننتظر منهم خطوات إيجابية أقلها الاعتراف.
* الاعتراف بما يعنيه من طرد السفراء؟
– نعم، فتح مكتب شرعي للمجلس وإقفال السفارة السورية. وكل ما من شأنه أن يثبت أن المجلس هو من يمثل وأن النظام فقد شرعيته، حتى يتوقف عن القتل.
* لماذا غابت «هيئة التنسيق» عن المجلس الوطني؟
– لقد دعيت هيئة التنسيق إلى المجلس، لكنهم لم يحضروا. هم معارضة، ونحن نحترم رأيهم. الخلاف بيننا وبينهم هو أنهم يرون ضرورة إبقاء الحوار مفتوحا مع النظام. أما نحن في الإخوان وفي المجلس الوطني، فنرى أن هذا النظام لم يعد يصلح للحوار. إنه فاقد للشرعية، وحتى للأخلاق والمبادئ. هم ما زالت أيديهم ممدودة للحوار مع النظام رغم رفضه لهم. النظام يجري الحوار مع نفسه فقط.
*هناك من اتهمكم في المجلس بأنكم تتلقون تمويلا أميركيا..
– تعودنا على هذه الاتهامات والفبركات من أبواق النظام، أما أن يستخدمها بعض المعارضين، فهذه قضية تلفت النظر. نحن لا نباع ولا نشترى وتمويلنا من ذواتنا، ومن رجال الأعمال المؤيدين. هذه اتهامات لا نقف عندها ولا نلقي إليها بالا. ونتمنى على المعارضين الذين يلقون بها إذا كانوا صادقين مع أنفسهم أن يتجنبوا اتهام الآخرين من دون دليل.
* رفعتم شعار «الحماية الدولية»، فكيف يمكن أن يترجم هذا المطلب على أرض الواقع، في حين أنكم تصرحون برفض التدخل العسكري الخارجي؟
– الأمر يحتاج إلى مختصين، ويجب أن يحال الموضوع إلى لجان قانونية مختصة لبحث كيفية تعامل المجتمع الدولي مع نظام يقتل شعبه.
* لا يبدو أن هناك أملا كبيرا في مساعدة من الخارج، في ظل الموقف الروسي والصيني؟
– نحن ما زلنا في بداية الطريق. ننتظر من الدول الأخرى المصداقية بالاعتراف بهذا المجلس لأنه سيكون ضربة قاسية للنظام. سنشكل وفودا تجوب العالم كله تطرح قضية الشعب السوري وتطلب الاعتراف.
* ما حجم التجاوب العربي معكم؟
– إلى الآن لا تجاوب. هناك بعض التصريحات التي نقدرها كتصريح الملك عبد الله والتصريحات القطرية. لكن إلى الآن لم يتلق الشعب السوري الدعم من أحد.
* تتحدثون عن سلمية الثورة، لكن هناك من في المعارضة من يطالب بالثورة المسلحة باعتبارها الدرب الوحيدة لإسقاط النظام؟
– نحن نصر على سلمية الثورة. السلمية أكثر جدوى، فتسليح الثورة من شأنه أن يؤدي إلى حرب أهلية ويسقط ضحايا كثرا، كما قد يؤدي إلى تدخل خارجي لا نريده. ونحن نظن أنه إذا كان العالم صادقا ومنسجما مع مبادئه ومارس ضغوطا حقيقية على النظام فسيؤدي إلى إسقاط النظام إن شاء الله.
* وما هو دور «الجيش السوري الحر» إذا؟
– الجنود الذين انشقوا عن الجيش النظامي يدافعون عن أنفسهم بمواجهة هذا الجيش. دفاع المنشقين عن أنفسهم حق مشروع، لكن أن يشارك الشعب أمر غير مقبول. لقد سألتنا مجموعات من الشباب المتظاهرين عما إذا كان عليهم الالتحاق بالمنشقين، فأجبناهم بالنفي. ونحن نحذر الناس من الانسياق وراء العمل العسكري.
October 9th, 2011, 1:29 am
Revlon said:
A message from al-Assad!
08/10/2011
By Tariq Alhomayed
http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=2&id=26857
Despite Syrian denials of the Iranian Fars News Agency’s report – quoting a senior Arab official speaking on the condition of anonymity – that President Bashar al-Assad threatened Turkish Foreign Minister [Ahmet Davutoglu] that it is within his capability to “set fire” to the entire region in 6 hours, we can suppose that al-Assad’s message has reached its intended recipients in our region.
Of course, Davutoglu has also denied this news, however what is clear – and this is most important – is that this news report is a Syrian – Iranian message to the region and the West, aiming to warn everybody against providing any help towards the toppling of the al-Assad regime.
This is because this news was not reported by any western or Arab news agency, even though it is attributed to a “senior Arab official”, rather it was reported by an Iranian news agency!
To summarize the Iranian Fars News Agency report, al-Assad had shocked Davutoglu by calmly asking him for his “opinion as a diplomat, as to why international powers known for their hostility towards Damascus are hesitating with regards to repeating the Libyan experience in Syria?”
According to Fars News Agency, Davutoglu asked al-Assad “is there any specific message you want me to transfer to Ankara?” to which al-Assad replied “the message that I come with is not just for Ankara, for but many countries, and I want you to transfer this message word for word…if a crazy measure is taken against Damascus, I will not need more than 6 hours to transfer hundreds of rockets and missiles to the Golan Heights to fire them at Tel Aviv.”
Al-Assad also said that Damascus would call on Hezbollah in Lebanon to launch “an intensive rocket and missile attack on Israel the likes of which the Israeli spy agencies cannot even imagine.”
The Syrian President then reportedly said “all these events will happen in [the first] three hours, but in the second three hours, Iran will attack US warships in the Persian Gulf, whilst the Shiite’s in the Gulf will attack European interests, killing Americans and Europeans around the world.
The Shiites in the Arab world will become a Fedayeen suicide force attacking every available target, as well as hijacking Middle Eastern airplanes.”
The Fars News Agency also reported that al-Assad told Davutoglu that “the US knows that we helped it topple the Saddam Hussein regime because this is what we wanted…and that Syria is the reason that they are embroiled in Iraq today.”
He said “if we wanted to kill thousands of US soldiers we would have done this without hesitation, however Syrian policy has always been one of caution and not playing all our [political] cards at one time” adding that “Damascus is playing [the political game] with good humor.”
I am convinced, as I said above, that even though Davutoglu himself denied this news report, as did the al-Assad regime, the intention behind the Iranian Fars News Agency publishing this report was to send a clear message to the Gulf States and the West, and it enough to consider what happened, and is happening, in al-Awamiyah in Saudi Arabia, or the [Shiite] movement in Bahrain, and so on.
We have become accustomed to this game of media leaks from Iran, whether this is via their own numerous news agencies or television [news] channels.
We have also become accustomed to the al-Assad regime sending messages via certain Lebanese newspapers, and we saw this throughout the famous “S – S initiative” negotiations between Saudi Arabia and Syria over the situation in Lebanon.
However the question that must be asked today is: has al-Assad’s message reached those concerned in the region? We hope so!
October 9th, 2011, 1:37 am
ann said:
Protesters want world to know they’re just like us – 10 hrs ago
http://news.yahoo.com/protesters-want-world-know-theyre-just-us-163045706.html
What led Abdullah Pollard to the protests, just months after he became a U.S. citizen, was no less than the dashing of his American dream.
Pollard, 58, came to the United States from Trinidad in 1996, and became a citizen in June. “I didn’t feel empowered as an immigrant,” he said at Wednesday’s march, where he volunteered as a marshal. “Now I am a citizen, and I want to stand up for the downtrodden.”
A father of three adult kids, Pollard was laid off in April from his job in telecommunications. He’s looking for work again but said it’s hard at his age. He feels let down by a country where, he said, “both political parties march to the same drummer — the powerful corporations.”
“You leave your own country and you expect things to be better in America, a step or two up from what you left back home,” he said. “And then there’s this rude awakening.
“America is just not what it used to be.”
October 9th, 2011, 1:42 am
Syria no kandahar said:
The Mehshi politician thinks that it it is ok to go to the beach and swim and not get wet,it does not work that way.This is the Internet and you are siding with a movement which has almost completely distructed my country and you are trying to neutralize me.you actually spread hate on this site(let us not talk to this guy,let us talk to this guy).you and the people you support will take Syria to dark ages.When you are 100%sure who the killers of mr Tammo are give your evidence otherwise don not spread your lies,we are sick and tired of lies and don’t expect to have the comfort of spreading them without evidence with no challenge .MB and opposition are the most benifited by this killing but a have no evidence so I will just stop and eat mehshi.
October 9th, 2011, 1:52 am
Revlon said:
Females of any age are cautioned and advised to stay home and avoid security checkpoints; They risk being assaulted and raped, even if accompanied by male family members!
Disclaimer!
Those who require video confirmation of the attacks and rapes, independant investigation, and and a jury verdict need to skip the rest of this post.
حركة سوريا شباب من أجل الحرية Youth Syria For Freedom
نهيب بالأخوات في سوريا : رجاء القراءة الى النهاية الموضوع بغاية الاهمية..
======================================
التزام المنازل وعدم الخروج وحدهن أو حتى مرور الحواجز الأمنية بالليل
ولو مع أزواجهم أو أخوتهم وتجنب استخدام سيارات الأجرة، بسبب اطلاق
الشبيحة و السماح لهم بالاغتصاب و الاعتداء على أعراضنا.
وفيما يلي بعض حالات الاغتصاب الواقعة في الأسبوعين الأخيرين:
ريف دمشق و حمص و ريفها و اللاذقية: أكثر من أربعة و عشرين حالة اعتداء
جنسي على أطفال مدارس في ريف دمشق (الغوطة الشرقية) و ثلاث حالات اغتصاب
لفتيات من دوما و حالة اغتصاب في حرستا، حالة اختتطاف فتاتين من دمشق،
خمس حالات اختطاف مستمر إلى الآن لفتيات في حمص كانت زينب الحصني أحداها،
و حالات أخرى في اللاذقية.. و من المؤكد حتماً أن ما خفي أعظم، و بكثير
(نقلاً عن إحدى صديقات الضحية) ريف دمشق: دوما الأربعاء 5-10-2011
نص المحادثة مساء الجمعة:
اغتصبت فتاة قبل البارحة الساعة 1 ليللا عند حاجز في دوما من قبل 4 حيوانات!!!!
مع انه الفتاة كانت مع عائلتها لكن تم ضرب الأب
والاعتداء على الفتاة
يعني وصلت القصص انه عم يعملوا هيك بالشارع
(نقلاً عن معلمة الصف) دمشق : مساكن برزة : مدرسة التجارة الثانوية
للإناث : الأربعاء 5-10-2011
قامت مجموعة من الطالبات في الاستراحة الأولى الساعة 11 بالهتاف لإسقاط
النظام وانضم لهن مجموعة من الطالبات وفقدت الآنسات السيطرة عليهن ،
فقامت الإدارة بالاتصال بالأمن ، فاقتحم المدرسة العشرات من رجال الأمن
المدججين بالسلاح ، قاموا بالاعتداء على البنات بالضرب والسب والشتم
والكلام البذيء ، وطلبوا من الطالبات من بنات شبيح ان يكتبن لهم اسماء
اللواتي قمن بالهتاف ، وقاموا باعتقال 5 طالبات بعد ان اعتدوا عليهن
بالضرب والسب والإهانة أمام زميلاتهن وهددوا البنات بالاعتداء عليهن
جسدياً وجنسياً
(نقلاً عن أحد أبناء المنطقة من الناشطين على الشبكة) ريف دمشق: دوما: 27-9-2011
خرجت الطفلة (تحفظ الأهل على ذكر الاسم واللقب لما لهذا الموضوع من
حساسية بالغة ) وهي طالبة في المرحلة الإعدادية من سكان دوما ومن أصلاب
أهلها الأصليين ، من بيتها إلى مدرستها لتتعرض إلى عملية اختطاف واغتصاب
قبل وصولها إلى المدرسة
وقد تم العثور عليها بين البساتين المحيطة بالبلدة بحالة صحية حرجة جدا
وعليها آثار الاعتداء والضرب المبرح وتمزيق الثياب والانهيار .
(نقلاً عن أحد أبناء المنطقة من الناشطين على الشبكة) حرستا: ريف دمشق: 29-9-2011
جرى الاعتداء ليلاً على عائلة محافظة عند أحد الحواجز الأمنية و تم ضرب
الأب و سحب الفتاة و اغتصابها من أكثر من عنصر
و قصص اخرى يشيب لها الرأس من هول ما نسمع عن هؤلاء المجرمون الذين يسمون “الأمن”
بالنهاية نقول للرجال الصامتين و الخائفين: هل تنتظرون لتنتهك أعراضكم
حتى تقولوا …لا للظلم….لا للاجرام….؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟
October 9th, 2011, 1:54 am
Haytham Khoury said:
@Ghufran #223:
Certainly, not every murder is committed by the regime. However, this one seems to be committed by people who are not afraid from anything.
October 9th, 2011, 2:00 am
Revlon said:
Light stuff!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150333851031247&set=a.180661131246.127991.17702461246&type=1
أحد الشباب كان معتقل بأحد فروع المخابرات بالشام
فاإيجى الضابط ليحقق معو مشان الفاسبوك فقالوا للشب : اعترف
فرد الشب : بشو سيدي
قالوا : انك انت اللي مخترع الفاسبوك
فرد الشاب : لا والله يا سيدي هادا واحد حمصي اللي اخترع الفاسبوك مو من عنا بالتنسيقية
المهم غاب الضابط شوي ورجع كان طالع عالتلفزيون خبر وفاة ستيف جوبز الجندلي اللي اخترع الأي فون وانو أصلو حمصي
فرجع الضابط عغرفة التحقيق وقالوا : بدك هلأ تعترف انك انت اللي اخترعت الفاسبوك
لان الحمصي طلع مخترع الأي فون مو الفاسبوك
October 9th, 2011, 2:14 am
Syria no kandahar said:
Revlon
Prior to your terrorist movement cases like this were very rare.Now thanks to your Islamic rats terrorists you have turned some parts of Syria into hell.you take all the credit for that.
You do sound happy when you bring news and lies like that,don’t you?
Over the last few weeks you have been telling us of killing 30 to 40 soldiers every day with great happiness!! don’t they get funerals? And how come you don’t even care when 30 soldiers are dead?don’t you think they are syrians?are they all evil?why?because they have not defector to Turkey? Don’t you have family in Syria, a nephew or a czn ore a neighbor in the army?you don’t mind if they all get killed if they don’t join the Turkish based
Defectors? This is horrible,you are worse than the regime,you have no mercy and you have so much hate and poison in you that all you want is to bite any Syrian who is against you.
October 9th, 2011, 2:16 am
Revlon said:
Officer Othman Mooosa, security-in-charge of the office of Maher AlAsad has been reportedly executed by two agents in side M AlAsad’s Palace in Dummar, Damascus!
أموي مباشر – Omawi Live
أموي مباشر #syria •◄ تنسيقيات دوما >> نقلا عن احد ضباط الجيش السوري الحر خبر عاجل : مقتل الرائد عثمان موسى ( أحد مدراء مكتب ماهر الأسد و المسؤول الأمني عن حماية القصر ) داخل المقر الكائن في دمشق – دمر ( التوسع آخر مساكن الحرس الجمهوري ) قصر ماهر الأسد في تمام الساعة 8.30 مساء يوم الجمعة 7/10/وصلنا من مصادر موثوقة تؤكد نبأ مقتل الضابط المذكور داخل المقر بطلق ناري نافذ في الرأس و هروب كل من العنصرين ثائر نمر و ابراهيم ناصر إثر وقوع العملية .
an hour ago
October 9th, 2011, 2:32 am
Revlon said:
A light poetry break!
تنسيقية شباب عندان الاحرار
شعر :: أحمد مطر – جرأة مواطن عربي !
قلتُ للحاكمِ : هلْْ أنتَ الذي أنجبتنا ؟
قال : لا .. لستُ أنا
قلتُ : هلْ صيَّركَ اللهُ إلهاً فوقنا ؟
قال : حاشا ربنا
قلتُ : هلْ نحنُ طلبنا منكَ أنْ تحكمنا ؟
قال : كلا
قلت : هلْ كانت لنا عشرة أوطانٍ
وفيها وطنٌ مُستعملٌ زادَ عنْ حاجتنا
فوهبنا لكَ هذا الوطنا ؟
قال : لم يحدثْ ، ولا أحسبُ هذا مُمكنا
قلتُ : هل أقرضتنا شيئاً
على أن تخسفَ الأرضَ بنا
إنْ لمْ نُسدد دَينَنَا ؟
قال : كلا
قلتُ : مادمتَ إذن لستَ إلهاً أو أبا
أو حاكماً مُنتخبا
أو مالكاً أو دائناً
فلماذا لمْ تَزلْ يا ابنَ الكذا ترآبنا ؟؟
… وانتهى الحُلمُ هنا
أيقظتني طرقاتٌ فوقَ بابي :
افتحِ البابَ لنا يا ابنَ الـ…
افتحِ البابَ لنا
إنَّ في بيتكَ حُلماً خائنا !!!
October 9th, 2011, 2:36 am
Mina said:
Everytime there was an attempt for a positive step (a speech announcing reforms, the UN veto…) there is an event coming that changes everything and turns the atmosphere to very dark. It has been so since April, and this time it is the Tammo killing.
I see that all the school friends of Tara have been called to click on green thumbs. These FB users are happy to have new apps to play with all the time.
Instead of closing SC, maybe we could simply continue to send to Alex and Ehsani the links to articles on Syria, but keep the whole website as an archive, without a comment section. I simply don’t believe that Syrians can be greeting themselves, laughing and rejoicing at every killing.
October 9th, 2011, 2:40 am
Mina said:
Revlon’s comments are disgusting. Half of it is proved false with 24h, and the rest is more or less rumours. The spreading of rumours of rapes has been very much trending in Egypt too, and was carried all along by al jazeera. It is a cheap way for the MB to reach the deepest fears of people, I suspect.
What is the use of thumbs up and down when people start rating “where have you been?”
October 9th, 2011, 2:55 am
Mohamed Kanj said:
SAUDI ARABIA SENDING ARMY TANKS AND BATTALIONS TO CRUSH PRO DEMOCRACY PROTESTS
October 9th, 2011, 2:56 am
ann said:
Hypocrisy At Its Most Naked – OpEd – October 8, 2011
http://www.eurasiareview.com/08102011-hypocrisy-at-its-most-naked-oped/
Russia and China’s veto of the UN Security Council resolution which condemned Syria over its brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters and contained a weak reference to the possibility of sanctions against Damascus proved (again) one thing – that despite torrents of soaring rhetoric to the contrary by our leaders, international politics is not about doing what is right and in the best interests of all nations and peoples, it’s only about the short-term, short-sighted, political self-interest of leaders and their governments. And the statement by U.S. ambassador Susan Rice, described by the New York Times as “one of her most bellicose speeches in the Council chamber”, was pure, unadultered hypocrisy at its most naked.
But let us first of all be clear about the meaning of hypocrisy (hypocrite is from hypokrite, the ancient Greek for actor). The definitions of hypocrisy are “a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not… the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion.” The synonyms for hypocrisy are “cant… dissembling… insincerity… piousness.” The antonyms are “genuineness… sincerity.”
If I was contributing to the updating of dictionaries, I would add another definition of hypocrisy – American foreign policy.
In her statement after Russia and China had vetoed and before she walked out of the Council chamber, Susan Rice said: “The United States is outraged that this council has utterly failed to address an urgent moral challenge and a growing threat to regional peace and security.”
This is, of course, the same Susan Rice who will cast the U.S. veto to kill the Palestinians’ bid for Security Council recognition of their statehood (if the bid gets to the Security Council). It is apparently of no concern to her and her master that the Security Council has utterly failed, time and time again, to address the criminal policies of the Zionist (not Jewish) state of Israel, policies which present a far more urgent moral challenge and growing threat to regional peace and security than what Bashar al-Assad’s monster regime is doing in Syria.
Rice also said: “Today the courageous people of Syria can now see who on this Council supports their yearning for liberty and universal human rights and who does not.”
Quite so, madam ambassador, but is it of no concern to you that almost the whole world (of peoples not governments) is aware of who on the Security Council supports the Palestinian yearning for liberty and universal human rights and who does not?
If there was a Nobel prize for hypocrisy, Susan Rice would have to be added to the list of nominees for it along with President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. (Question: What do those two gentlemen have in common? Answer: In the context of targeted assassinations, it can be said that both are cold-blooded killers).
On another matter… The jury in my mind is still out on the question of whether or not professor Shlomo Avineri, the Polish-born Israeli political scientist, is a hypocrite. His most recent article is in Ha’aretz with the headline No realistic chance of permanent Middle East peace. The following is its opening paragraph.
“In his speech to the UN General Assembly, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas once again made a common Palestinian mistake: a Palestinian leader does not have to persuade the nations of the world, but rather the Israelis. A Palestinian state will arise only if the Palestinians convince the Israelis that they are indeed ready to live in peace and mutual recognition.”
In theory that makes a lot of sense, but it ignores the fact that most Israeli Jews have been brainwashed by Zionist propaganda and, as a consequence, need to feel threatened, need to believe they are the victims and not the oppressors. Put another way, most Israeli Jews do not want to believe that the Palestinians (the vast majority of them) have long been ready for peace on terms which any rational government and people in Israel would have accepted with relief.
That being so, there isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell of peace unless and until an American president has the freedom and the courage to use his leverage to compel Israel to end its occupation of all Arab land grabbed in 1967.
October 9th, 2011, 2:58 am
agatha said:
my opinion: Protestes with depredation in Berlin, Hamburg and Geneva or elsewere are nonsense!
and needless negativ propaganda for Syrian opposition
http://www.drs.ch/www/de/drs/nachrichten/nachrichtenticker/oid.5475ce4d5aac42373a6c13a34d254778.html?s=al
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/0,1518,790749,00.html
http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/politik/international/syrien_botschaft_uno_genf_berlin_1.12905046.html
http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/nach-mord-an-oppositionsfuehrer-regimegegner-stuermen-syrische-vertretungen-in-deutschland-1.1157856
October 9th, 2011, 3:36 am
Adam Neira said:
Prayers for Syria.
Outside military intervention is not an option. All the Syrian factions are going to have to agree to a cessation of violence. The country is an important piece of the Middle East jigsaw puzzle. It should be a platform of stability, order, benevolence and expansiveness. The GDP of the nation can grow by more than 5% p.a. from 2013 onwards if things calm down. From the current base of $5,043 per capita this could rise to $32,000 p.a. by 2050.
October 9th, 2011, 3:42 am
syau said:
Revlon,
Have you considered mentioning the rapes of over 400 Syrian women and girls in the Turkish ‘refugee’ camps? I think not, because as unfortunate as it is, it actually did happen unlike the fabrications you enjoy posting.
Why dont you ask yourself that after seven months, and a massive amount of money being poured into this foreign funded revolution of terror, attempts to divide the country and topple the government haven’t and wont been realised, because the MAJORITY of Syrians support President Assad and support him in leading reforms?
Wake up to yourself. Syrians will not allow this terror movement you support take over their country. Although it may be hard for you to accept, the terrorist organisation who calls themselves the Muslim Brotherhood does not belong in Secular Syria.
October 9th, 2011, 3:58 am
MNA said:
Tara @ 171
“Sandro
What puzzles me the most is not Bashar’s action, rather Asma and her close family. Bashar is the son of a mass murderer so crime is in his family but Asma isn’t. I indeed have crossed path with Asma many years ago. I would have never though that she will end up that way. Not so much her marriage to Bashar, rather her apparent acceptance of what has come of Bashar. She comes from a “traditional” family. A mother from Damascus and a father from Homs. She was born in England so democracy is not a foreign concept to her. For greed and power to corrupt people like this is beyond my comprehension although I bet this is rather naive to say. The history is full of similar examples. Unfortunately her education did not make her fair better than the Tunisian former hairstylist.”
I agree history and life in general is full of similar examples. I bit you that you would have never believed it in million years for Tara to be calling for sanctions, no fly zone, foreign intervention etc.. against her own country. People make all the justification to justify their own positions.
October 9th, 2011, 4:02 am
Mina said:
As usual the expats commenting from their sofa in the US are following Lebanese news more than the Syrian and Iraqi ones.
Here are two good articles from SANA English:
http://www.sana.sy/eng/337/2011/10/09/374286.htm
(on Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church in Palestine and Jerusalem, Atallah Hanna, supporting reforms and confronting the external conspiracy to destabilize Syria)
and
http://www.sana.sy/eng/22/2011/10/09/374276.htm
on the necessity of dialogue (but did you notice, everytime there is a big event planned, some rumours of shaykhs having been killed, or some actual killing of important figures take place and make it impossible.
I suggest the dialogue should be by phone and through the internet, to avoid the traps of the so called “friends of Syria abroad”.
I still believe that Maher’s people and a bunch of criminals in the mukhabaraat have “nothing to lose” and will fight it to the end instead of ending up in a jail, but that Bashar never gave orders to shoot of the protesters. Ford and others presence is actually a caution to protect Bashar.
October 9th, 2011, 4:08 am
Mina said:
MNA
Don’t be fooled, Tara is a “sock puppet”, and a honeytrap. Nothing of what he writes could be written by a woman. The mere insistance on “shoes”, “kitchen”, “my kids”, “shopping”, “ballerine”, “Iranian women”, should alert you.
It showed up straight when the so called Lesbian of Damacus blogger (another sock puppet, see http://bookmaniac.org/chasing-amina/ ) disappeared from screens. Some students get an income this way.
Just go through his posts since April and you will be amazed at the number of contradictions.
October 9th, 2011, 4:14 am
Syria no kandahar said:
Occupying Syrian embassies in Europ and lifting up Kurdish flags on them is a clip in the future of what is coming to Syria .Same applies to lifting Kurdish flags in mr Tammo’s funeral.MB and Opposition puppets should be ready to face the new reality:Syrian politics are dirty…from the get go Kurds are declaring this country as Kurdistan ,what are you going to do ?how can Alisslam be the resolution her?Put your heads in the sand and blame it on Assad..Kurds are separatist by nature,in all the countries they live in.Kurds HATE MB,they also hate Turkey,killing mr Tammo by whoever is not going to create Kurdish-Turkish-MB love.Historically many Kurds are no religious and high percentage of kurds were communists,so naturally any religious Islamic movement will not be a good match for them.Kurds in Syria want what Iraq Kurds got:Pashmarka,flag,parlaman….almost a country inside a country …that is just short term..long term they want the big Kurdistan
October 9th, 2011, 4:45 am
Some guy no longer in damascus said:
I have no idea why you guys are obsessed with Tara,
On the other hand
SNK, it’s the regime thats ruining your country. It killed off competition in markets, multiple freedoms, encouraged corruption, augmented the brain drain etc…
How do you think we felt when we saw rami makhlouf illegally taking over the milk industry in late 2010?? Or the fact that rami is building tall hotels in areas where 3 floors is maximum? Or when raid seif was imprisoned for speaking out on the telecom bid, or when we have difficulty finding a place to park because some military officer reserved 6 places for him, or when our high school curriculum is still from the 80’s, I could go on for hours. But I hope you got my point, the assadists ruined our country, all what your seeing now is the anger of a myriad of syrians asking for change besho can’t deliver.
All,
What ghufran is saying could be very true,
We automatically jump to conclusions when some one is killed and blame the regime, I’m very careful after zeynabs story, however why were 5 plus mourners killed by the regime?? I mean fine, the regime could’ve not killed timo but why did they kill his mourners? If I was a murderer denying I killed some one I are wouldn’t kill people at his funeral. A new motto is appearing all over revolution pages on facebook : غباؤكم ينصرنا. Which literally means your idiocy is making us win.
October 9th, 2011, 4:50 am
Mina said:
SGNLD
How do you see the region in 5 years? Could anything emerge from a local revolution, from some local events? Aren’t the destiny of Iraq Syria and Lebanon, not to mention Turkey, Iran and Jordan, linked?
Why should the Arab spring be limited to the non-alined? Why not hoping for a Kurdish spring and a Palestinian spring?
Do you really think the West will admit a Kurdish and a Palestinian spring, now that the djinn is out of the box? Wouldn’t the MB, on the ground, and the UN, on the borders, be a way to keep a hand in the future design of the area?
October 9th, 2011, 4:55 am
Mina said:
Very interesting picture of a pro-Syrian revolution demo in Lebanon:
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/10/portrait-of-usama-bin-laden-in-tripoli.html
(nice portraits of Aroor and Ben Laden, for those who still think no one knows who is Aroor)
I start to regret Bush, he would have bombed Wesal TV a long time ago.
The interview of Haytham Manna also passed unnoticed in this comment section:
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/syria%E2%80%99s-manna-ghalioun-and-trinity-successful-revolt
And a special link for Akbar Palace, about the use of water in Palestine
http://www.btselem.org/jordan_valley/water
Hamster: you live in Lala land, next time there is a 51 versus 49 percent election in Canada, call for a no fly zone and I’ll bring you weapons. There was NOT 50 percent of the population in the street in March or April, and most places in Syria live a normal life.
October 9th, 2011, 5:18 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
It is all in the Family
So you are either living in your own little piece of LALA land, or you are protecting a pathetic man who can’t even rule over his little kid brother to protect the people of his own Syria Al-Assad farm. I am impressed by how much you men7ebbak love Syria and wish her well if this is the type of person and dysfunctional family you want to continue ruling Syria in the name of stability. What a shame, I thought you are rational person. I am disappointed.
Speaking of disappointment, if you are betting the farm on Bashar, I can tell you from now, you will lose, and he will surely disappoint you. He is the master of disappointing people, especially those who try to really help him. Nothing good can be expected from a confirmed narcissist like him. The man can’t even take a stand against a cousin whose actions can be said to have started the whole debacle for the mafia family, or probably he just doesn’t want to. Either way, he is an unfit fool.
Finally, ever asked yourself, who is ANN?….
Garlic
SNK from previous thread
You don’t need more garlic. G… bags like you self generate their most important product.
Ever since you showed up, you have never failed to find an opportunity to mention, teenage-like, all sorts of bodily functions and body wastes. What level of education do you really have? Most of those who clicked thumbs up for this type of messages are hypocrites who would probably reprimand their own toddler or teenage child if their verbal communication included some of the imagery you have constantly used. But here, in the safety of internet perceived anonymity, proud pseudo intellectuals on your side have been all the happy to indulge your immature body-functions obsessions.
And by the way Mr. Genius, its is betho’s tanks and soldiers who are distructing the country, not the protesters.
So, Mr. body functions, it seems now you have found a new enemy in the Kurds of Syria. What an arrogant generalization the kurds are separatists . Well, the man of whose murder you have been trying very hard to weasel your beloved “stability” regime out was no separatist, he was far more Syrian than your chauvinist Baathists and their mindless supporters and I would argue far more deserving of leading Syria than the narcissist fool your words try to protect.
October 9th, 2011, 5:19 am
873 said:
SNP,
Sorry so late with this. Here is a video with former long time Forbes Mag far east asia bureau chief Benjamin Fulford on Haarp and Fukushima. The pointed, targeted pounding of vulnerable terrain in the run up to 3/11/11 follows the exact pattern of Haarp’s pounding of El Hierro if you compare the graphs. But Hierro 10,000+ earthquake swarm suddenly began in mid July out of nowhere. (At least in Japan it was explainable due to Japan’s extreme seismicity- Canaries have never been in that extreme geo-risk category). There have even been plasma balls spotted above Teide, Hierro and La Palma- but every single one of those videos has been removed.
Odd, just like the CO2 monitors
Word is that Canaries have mini haarp installations too.
October 9th, 2011, 5:36 am
uzair8 said:
Was the AJE live Syria blog hacked by Syrian Electronic Army?
One comment:
“Time of the hacking death is 9:48 GMT, the hacking lasted for 15mins. Wow…that will go down in history….NOT!!!”
October 9th, 2011, 5:37 am
some guy no longer in damascus said:
“SGNLD
How do you see the region in 5 years? Could anything emerge from a local revolution, from some local events? Aren’t the destiny of Iraq Syria and Lebanon, not to mention Turkey, Iran and Jordan, linked?”
it really depends on how things are going, if syria isnt dragged into the abyss by the regime, syria could have a great future. we could learn alot from the turks. most of these nations are linked to each other, and having stable, democratic and civil states will encourage each other.
“Why should the Arab spring be limited to the non-alined? Why not hoping for a Kurdish spring and a Palestinian spring?”
because of our leaders( all arabs) awful management , the Palestinians are weak, we failed them the most. and syria DAB wont be able to support them. perez said it in 2006:” the syrian army is old and weak” as for the kurds,
im all for greater autonomy in Kurdish inhabited areas but with a common foreign policy, this however is not why the people in the arab dominated areas are asking for, but if this revolution succeeds , it wont be taboo if some kurdish activists ask for autonomy( kinda like a catalonia-spain situation) no one will punish them.
“Do you really think the West will admit a Kurdish and a Palestinian spring, now that the djinn is out of the box? Wouldn’t the MB, on the ground, and the UN, on the borders, be a way to keep a hand in the future design of the area?”
i really beleive the west wants a kurdish state( with great opposition from turkey) , it will serve the divide and conquer policy great, imagine what a syria with an israel in the south and a kuridstan with an Israeli alliance in the north will look like.
as for Palestine, im very pessimistic about their situation, because we arabs failed them. all we can do is provide the limited support we can.
everybody,feel free to criticize me.
on another note:
i cant believe people fell for aboud’s Emmanuel goldstein, has any one read any George Orwell?? he is like the best author on autocratic states. read his 2 amazing books 1984, and animal farm.
if you dont like reading, watch the movie V FOR VENDETTA.
October 9th, 2011, 5:55 am
uzair8 said:
Words of Wisdom: Be with Allah
By Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi
To all people involved in the Syrian and Arab revolutions; to political leaders struggling for their peoples and to all Muslims under oppression:
This is the right time to come back to Allah, the time to repent and return to Him and the time to beseech Him; as this is the key to our relief and the means for us to be given the authority of our ancestors and be true heirs to them. “Who else will answer the call of the distress, lift hardships and appoint you as inheritors of the earth?”*
Everyone should know that adversities are results of our sins and that repentance is the way to remove them. We need to also remember that all things are under the power of Allah. We have to take action as He commanded us yet with reliance on Him and after returning to Him and believing that He is the only one who could benefit or harm us, not this man or that. This was clearly stated by the Greatest Prophet, our master PBUH when he said, “You should Know that if all people tried to extend to you a favour, they would not be able to extend but what Allah predestined for you; and similarly, if all people tried to cause you any harm, they would not be able unless Allah predetermined it against you.
So be with Allah through reliance, with His Decree through contentment with it; with His command by executing it and with His creation by having mercy on them. Do not let means and actions stop your belief that Allah is the Creator of the causes and the effects; nor allow people’s harm to you make you obsessed with them.
Allah suffices for you, if you stand at His door as a servant, as He clearly promised, “Is Allah not enough for His Servant?” Read the rest of the verse to find the answer to your current dilemma “and they intimidate you with others who are far less powerful than Him.” So, do not fear other than Allah as long as you are a true servant of Allah: If you are with Allah, Allah will be with you; if you run to Allah, you will be safe from everything else; if you seek support with His Signs you will superior
In as much as calamities reveal man’s true mettle and virtue; they demonstrate the essence of his belief, contentment, and reliance. This is one of the most important purposes of adversities as Allah Almighty said, “We will try you to reveal who amongst you truly struggles and is patient; and to disclose your states – to others.” Then Allah says, “the unbelievers who prevent people from the path to Allah, disobey the Messenger, after guidance was made clear to them, will not cause any harm to Allah; Allah will foil all their misdeeds.”
http://www.facebook.com/shaykhabulhuda
October 9th, 2011, 5:56 am
uzair8 said:
This is interesting. Shaykh Yaqoubi supports the revolution even though he belives what follows will be worse. Listening to some Scholars one could become confused.
Sheikh Imran Hussein who specialises in end-time prophecies etc warns of these uprisings even calling revolutionaries of Libya as ‘cattle’. Sheikh Nazim also questions what the revoltionaries are calling for (other than Islam) and warns that what will follow would be worse although he does say the leaders should step down if the people dont want them.
See next post:
October 9th, 2011, 6:14 am
uzair8 said:
Q & A on the Mahdi and the Sufyani
Muhammad Idrisi asks: Is there any ease after this hardship or problems will increase till the advent of imam Mahdi, enlighten us may Allah reward you with every good. Please make du’a for us; and how to be of the soldiers of the Mahdi, if we live till his time. And what is the way to attain true love for the Family of the Prophet not as a claim?
Answer of Shaykh… Al-Yaqoubi, may Allah preserve him:
Time if full of unrest and hardships; the Sufyani has not yet appeared and Allah is the one who knows; imam Mahdi will emerge only after him; yet between the two, there are wide wildsin which the Jewish people would have power over the land of Sham, which is part of the job of the coming Sufyani. If I had the choice, I would have withdrawn from all public activities; but the dress of shari’a puts on us the obligation to support the oppressed and clarify the rulings, even if we know through the reality that what comes after is worse. Having knowledge of the Divine decree to be should not prevent us from following the command of the shari’a; so long as Allah put us in the position of fatwa, admonishment and guidance. Remember these words, as we rarely express it in this clear way.
http://www.facebook.com/shaykhabulhuda
October 9th, 2011, 6:15 am
Syria no kandahar said:
PEACE REFUSING HAMSTER
You have refused peace,that is not so (hamstry),that is ok.no more peace,you are selecting as a hamster the same way your scorpions friends in the opposition path: no peace.Do you get happy when you see Kurdish flags on your countries embassies,is that a friendly act? You clearly have no insight at all about the Kurdish politics and you are living in a deep hole and have no idea of what is going on on the surface of the earth.
You don’t argue subject and all you care about is to insult your opponents with collateral issues.you know very clearly that Syria last year was much better than this year,can you guarantee to me that once your Erdogan puppets gets installed in Damascus it is going to be better.your friend Revlon the snake should go in history is the biggest liar,he knows and you know that Syria before you destroyed it was very safe country,you could walk in the street in the middle of night with any money on your pocket and no one will bother you.Rape,Hijacking,cutting heads…are all introduced by your terrorists friends.you are going no where and this Syrian nightmare will be behind us,and Syria will be better and stronger.
October 9th, 2011, 6:16 am
Mina said:
Uzair 257
I was waiting for something like that. I have a Yemeni friend, slightly ikhwanjiyya, and she is in Sanaa now. She sounds very surprised that with all of them praying like crazy since january and who basically have not since the age of 5 ever missed a fard prayer, that still Allah did not grant them a success.
You were probably among the people who thought that if the Palestinians were in such a misery, it is because they deserved it?
Kullu ma taqtarib bi madhhab, tabta’ad min ad din
kullu ma taqtarib bi din , tabta’ad min Allah.
October 9th, 2011, 6:25 am
uzair8 said:
@261 MINA.
I do believe that we deserve the leaders we get. Our religion warns us of this.
About Palestine (Jerusalem). It could be that muslims strayed from their religion and God Almighty took away from them unity, power, security and Jerusalem. A once mighty power now finds itself in humiliation with Jerusalem snatched away from us.
October 9th, 2011, 6:35 am
Mina said:
Uzair
“Our religion” is an answer that excludes a lot of people.
Strange that no one is interested in discussnig Haytham Manna ‘s statements about the so called council.
sgld
i quote you
“it wont be taboo if some kurdish activists ask for autonomy( kinda like a catalonia-spain situation) no one will punish them.”
ah ah, not even the Turks? you prefer to forget they bomb Kurdish ‘activists’ on the Iraqi side of the border every week.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2011/Oct-09/150831-turkish-police-block-mass-kurdish-protest.ashx#axzz1aHOevTpn
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/3193612.html
(hard to find an article with the actual number of dead and casualties:
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2011/09/21/Turkeys-war-against-Kurds-could-widen/UPI-52911316622817/
in paragraph 1 you praise the Turks as a model to follow (in the deification of Ataturk or whoever you’ll find?)
in paragraph 3 we are more cautious about the Turks
in paragraph 4 you seem to have no clue about the Palestinian efforts engaged on the international scene since they announced they were going to candidate for a seat at the UN, last winter.
October 9th, 2011, 6:40 am
Revlon said:
د . موفق السباعي : عبثية الثورة السلمية مع قاتل مجرم سفاح مصاص الدماء
2011/10/09
د . موفق السباعي
http://www.sooryoon.net/?p=34997
إنه لشئ طيب ، وعمل جليل وعظيم ، أن ينطلق الضعفاء والمقهورون والمظلومون والمستعبدون ، فيكسروا قيود العبودية ، ويحطموا أغلال الذل والهوان ، ويمزقوا استار الخوف ، ويتحدوا طغيان الطاغوت ، واستبداده وجبروته ، ويقولوا له ولجنوده وزبانيته ، بصوت عال وبالفم الملآن ، نريد الحرية ، نريد العزة ، نريد الكرامة ، الموت ولا المذلة ، ثم يتلقى هؤلاء الأحرار ، هؤلاء الشرفاء ، هؤلاء الأبطال ، الرصاص الحي بصدور عارية ، وأيد خاوية ، لا تحمل سوى لافته الحرية ، والعزة والكرامة ، فيسقطوا مضرجين بدمائهم الطاهرة الذكية .
وأن يتكرر هذا المشهد البطولي الخارق يوما بعد يوم ، وأسبوعا بعد أسبوع ، وشهرا بعد شهر ، ولسبعة أشهر ، وشلال الدم يزداد في التدفق والجريان ، والطاغوت يزداد في الإجرام والتنكيل ، والتمثيل في أجساد الشهداء الأبرار ، ولا يرعوي ، ولا أحد في هذا العالم يأخذ على يديه ، ويوقفه عن التمادي في الإجرام ، وسفك الدماء ، والتعذيب ، والقتل ،
هذا المشهد المتكرر ، يتطلب إعادة النظر في نهج هذه الثورة السلمية ، التي إذا ما استمرت بهذا الشكل ، تصبح ثورة انتحارية .
إن الثورة السلمية مؤثرة ومفيدة ، حينما تحدث ردة فعل مناوئة للطاغوت ، من قوة محلية أو اقليمية ، أو دولية ، تضغط عليه وتجبره على الرحيل ، كما حصل في الثورة الإيرانية في عام 1979 وفي الثورة الرومانية في عام 1989 والتونسية والمصرية في عام 2011 .
وبعد إطلاعي المفصل على هذه الثورات الأربع من مصادر مختلفة ، وجدت أن أعظم ثورة ، بل هي الثورة الوحيدة ، التي نجحت في خلال أسبوع واحد فقط ، ولم يسقط فيها من الضحايا إلا ألف شخص أو يزيدون قليلا ، وأحدثت تغييرات وتحولات جذرية في المجتمع الروماني من نظام شيوعي استبدادي ، إلى نظام ديموقراطي ، وهي الثورة الوحيدة التي تمكنت من إعدام الطاغية تشاوسيسكو وزوجته فورا بعد محاكمة ميدانية سريعة ، وليس كما في مصر ، تجرى محاكمة طويلة لحسني ، وقد لايصدر حكم بالإعدام أبداً ، وأذكر في ذلك الوقت أن الأسد الأب قد استنفر كل قواته على أهبة الإستعداد ، تخوفا من انتقال شرارة الثورة إلى سورية ، غير أن هذه الشعلة سقطت في البحر المتوسط قبل أن تصل إلى سورية مع كل أسف مع أن الإحتقان ، والغضب الشديدين ، والتعبأة العامة في النفوس ، كانت قوية ، لأن مذابح حماة كانت حديثة العهد ، لم يمض عليها سوى سبع سنوات فقط ، ولكن قدر الله تعالى كان ألا يحظى جيل تلك الأيام بشرف الثورة ، وذلك فضل الله يؤتيه من يشاء من عباده .
ولمن يريد أن يمتع ناظريه ، ويشفي غليله برؤية كيفية إعدام تشاوسيسكو وزوجته ، ويحلم ويصمم ، ويصر على إعدام بشار وجميع أفراد عائلته ، صغارا وكبارا ، رجالا ونساء ، دون أي تمييز ، فالمجرم يجب أن يُستأصل هو وجميع جذوره ، ولو كانوا أطفالا ( ولا تأخذكم بهما رأفة في دين الله ) فكما قتلوا أطفالنا ونساءنا ، فالحكم الإلهي يقتضي القتل بالمثل ، فتقتل أطفالهم ونساؤهم ، ولو تعلقوا بأستار الكعبة ( واقتلوهم حيث ثقفتموهم ، وأخرجوهم من حيث أخرجوكم ، والفتنة أشد من القتل ) ، قلنا لمن يريد أن يمتع ناظريه ، فليضغط على هذا الرابط
http://el3sery0.p2h.info/vb/showthread.php?t=1255
وبالمقارنة بين الثورة الرومانية والسورية ، نجد أن هناك عاملين أساسيين ، أديا إلى نجاح الثورة الرومانية بسرعة منقطعة النظير ، وبتكلفة قليلة هما:
1- خروج الشعب بأكمله في المظاهرات ، وخاصة في العاصمة بوخارست ولمدة أسبوع كامل بالرغم من أنها بدأت في مدينة تبعد عن العاصمة 350 كم تدعى تيميشوارا.
2- إنضمام الجيش بأكلمه إلى المتظاهرين بعد أيام قليلة من المظاهرات ، وهو الذي أصدر حكم الإعدام في تشاوسيسكو وزوجته ونفذ هذا الحكم فورا .
هذان العاملان – مع كل أسف – غير متوفرين في سورية إطلاقاً ، حيث أن أكثر من نصف الشعب لا يزال يتفرج على إخوانه يذبحون ، وهو يأكل ويشرب ، ويتمتع بالنزهات والنوادي الليلية ، والملاهي وخاصة في قلب دمشق وحلب ، اللتين تشكلان الثقل الأساسي والمفصلي في قوة الثورة ، فلو أن هذا العامل لوحده توفر للثورة السورية ، لأحدث فرقا كبيرا ، ولأسرع في انتصارها ، غير أن سبعة أشهر من المذابح والجرائم ، لم تهز قلب هذه الفصيلة من المخلوقات الخائفة المرعوبة ، الجبانة المشبعة بحياة الذل والعبودية ، وما أعتقد أن سبعة أشهر أخرى ، ستحرك فيهم ساكنا خاصة ، وأن زعيمي هاتين المدينتين البوطي وحسون ، قد طبع على قلبيهما ، فمن باب أولى أن يطبع على عامة هاتين المدينتين ، علاوة على أن معظم الجيش السوري منحاز إلى الطاغية ، وهو الذي يقوم بقتل الشعب ، وهدم البيوت على رؤوس أصحابها.
والذي يتأمل الثورات العربية الثلاث – التي قيل أنها نجحت – بتحليل دقيق ، ورؤية ثاقبة ، ونظرة عميقة ، يجد أن الثورة الليبية هي الوحيدة التي انتصرت ، بشكل كامل على الطاغوت البائد ، واقتلعته من جذوره ، وتسعى الآن ، إلى تطهير ليبيا من كل رجالاته وأعوانه ، بينما – للأسف – في تونس ومصر ، لم يُقتلع إلا الرأس ، ولكن جذوره لا تزال تنمو ، وتتكاثر وتفرخ ، ولم يتغير إلا شئ بسيط ، فلا حياة نيابية حصلت ، ولا رئاسة وزراء منتخبة حصلت ، ولا رئيس جمهورية منتخب حصل ، بالرغم من مضي أكثر من ثمانية أشهر على التغيير .
فإذا كان السوريون يطمحون ويتطلعون إلى زوال رأس النظام فقط ، مع بقاء جذوره ومخلفاته وفضلاته ، كما حصل في تونس ومصر ، فيا خسارة الدماء التي سالت ، والضحايا التي قتلت ، والمعتقلين الذين عذبوا ، ولا يزالون يعذبون ، والمهجرين الذين شردوا من ديارهم وأوطانهم ، خاصة وأن جذور النظام متشعبة ، ومتغلغلة في أعماق الأرض السورية ، أكثر بمرات عديدة مما هي في تونس ومصر
October 9th, 2011, 6:41 am
Mango said:
attention to 254. 873
الأسلحة المناخية و الزلزالية عمل بها في 1976 في الاتحاد السوفياتي
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEiGmt1QFfY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jV6Dhza2G0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gzOS9qSBQA
من قبل العالم السيد جباروف الذي أغتيل بسلاحه الشخصي في جنوب أفريقيا و مساعده المقيم حاليا في تل أبيب
بعد انهيار الاتحاد السوفياتي تبنت الولايات المتحدة فكرة H A A R P و
أنجزتها في موقع مناسب في الاسكا , و عملت بعدها على استخدامها عدة مرات في هاييتي و تسببت بحدوث موجات حر و حرائق في موسكو حيث التهمت النار المحاصيل الزراعية في روسيا العام الماضي !
October 9th, 2011, 7:01 am
Some guy no longer in damascus said:
Mina,
You are right.
So let me correct myself,
We have a lot to learn from turkey because it is better, albeit it is not 100 percent right.
This is why I recalled the Spain-Catalonia situation. A lot of catalans are asking for independence and the central government in Madrid isn’t bombing them.
Do you agree?
Im very conscious about the recent Palestinian efforts, but what good are they. Israel doesn’t abide by international law, so even if Palestine does gain statehood, it won’t change much or at all. No nation recognizes the golan as Israeli but it is still infact a part of Israel.
Let me repeat my self: the Israelis have to be more thankful to the Arab dictators than to their “IDF”‘ , american support, and their ethnic democracy .
October 9th, 2011, 7:14 am
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
@ uzair8
“About Palestine (Jerusalem). It could be that muslims strayed from their religion and God Almighty took away from them unity, power, security and Jerusalem. A once mighty power now finds itself in humiliation with Jerusalem snatched away from us.”
You are an example of everything that is wrong with the Middle East today. This fatalistic attitude that everything is in the hands of god and that “what will be will be”, is a big part of why the region is so underdeveloped. Religion should be a private matter, it should not form the basis of policy making.
I don’t think you realise just how pathetic you sound.
October 9th, 2011, 7:33 am
Mina said:
SGNLD
The difference being that Catalonia and Spain are both part of a bigger entity called Europe (this is what I point at when I say can we solve the ME problem without bigger entites.. in a way that’s in process now with the Syria-Iraq-Iran agreement), and otherwise they might well have the same kind of relation as the Basquese ETA and Spain. At the moment, Catalonia is probably better off with being part of Europe and keep a hope of recapitalisation of its banks.
As for Palestine, it will make a big difference. It means the possibility to put complaints in international courts. But no doubt the newspapers did not insist on that. It means the drawing of land, waters, and international waters (the hot issue since oil was discovered in the sea off Gaza).
Uzair,
I’ll return your point: God is punishing the Muslims for the poor status they have ended up giving to women (while I do believe that in the 7th century, Islam was actually offering laws that were quite feminist, compared to what was the legal situation of women in Hidjaz-Ethiopia-Yemen at the time). The zulm that the society is witnessing of itself ends up as a self-imposed zulm…
Jad,
You mentioned yesterday the closing of the Jordan and Turkish borders: hopefully, it might be a step to arrest the squad that has killed Tammo? Or it is a way to prevent more death-commandos to get in (now that we see every positive step, such as the Brics + Russia/China at the UN, followed by an escalation).
October 9th, 2011, 7:44 am
SYRIAN HAMSTER said:
Safe Place
SNK
You obviously have not been reading local press and newspapers before the uprizing. Crime rates, especially violent crime was on an alarming rising trend in Syria. Armed robberies were increasing substantially, rape incidents, especially of younger girls, was on the rise, and theft was becoming a common issue every day along with murder. All of this after Betho inherited a country that was so repressed by his dad that the rate of crimes committed by the citizens was among the lowest in the world. Crimes committed by the protected members of the Mafia have always been under reported if at all.
Under the Assad Mafia, especially during the enlightened x-box years, Syria earned a high place regionally as a major concern country for human trafficking as well as a key hub for drug trafficking. Abuse of foreign domestic workers by high society was/is rampant, and social fabric has become more fragile than the shroud of Turin. In the meantime, when a big drug bust happen, news would sure to surface that someone in the mafia and their extension was not receiving their greedy cut. Later, your safe regime released all of the violent criminals and drug smugglers, hence swelling the ranks of Shabbee7a by thousand violent offenders with no moral compass.
So spare us your indignation and Don’t go yapping about how safe syria was. Safe neighborhoods were those where drug kingpins and regime big shots had their own guards. Even then, the residents needed protection from the guards themselves, especially those guarding drug kingpins in Aleppo. Your regime has received these kingpins as pillars of Aleppo Society. Off course it would, the cousins of its head are the biggest of kingpins in the country. As I said before, it is all in the family.
Here is a little piece about your Safe Syria.
Crime Wave in Northeast Syria
Syria Media Report, 15-May-09
By IWPR – Syria Press Monitor
15 May 09
High unemployment rates are leading to an increase in crime in the northeastern province of Al-Hasaka, said a May 10 article on the All4Syria website.
The website predicted that crime rates could increase further if unemployment continued to rise.
After visiting a criminal court for minors and police stations in the area, the article’s author Hasan Baro said he was shocked by number of crimes recorded so far this year.
Law enforcement officers told him they were so overwhelmed by the work that they could not go home and rest during the holidays.
Policemen said petty thefts of bicycles, sheep and goods were common, as well as more serious armed robberies.
Baro explained that a severe drought affecting farming areas for the past few years has made it difficult to find jobs, prompting the current crime wave.
The author accused the government of failing to invest in development projects in Al-Hasaka, adding that official neglect of drought-hit villages had forced many people to leave.
Before you yapp about All4syria,
Here is anotherone showing how destructive to the social fabric of a country is living under the Assad’s safe Tyranny for 40 years.
Many Children Reportedly Victims of Violence
15-Oct-09
By IWPR – Syria Press Monitor
15 Oct 09
A recent survey by an official body showed that a large proportion of children in Syria were victims of various forms of physical and moral violence, an October 10 article in the pro-government magazine Black and White reported.
The survey conducted by the Syrian Committee for Family Affairs showed that around 83 per cent of the 4,000 children interviewed were subjected to physical violence.
The magazine did not give the age range of the sample nor how the survey was conducted.
More than half of those children had been slapped, pulled by the ear, hit on the soles of the feet or kicked several times.
The study revealed that it was mainly the children’s parents who practiced violence against them starting with fathers, then brothers and mothers. Some teachers also adopted violent attitudes towards their students.
At least 46 per cent suffered from marks on their bodies and 18 per cent had been wounded and more than a third had bruises or swelling as a consequence of physical violence, the survey said.
It added that 83 per cent of the children were first subjected to violence at an early age.
Also, more than a quarter of the children surveyed were victims of sexual harassment, the study said.
Some children suffered from verbal abuse, being occasionally severely scolded, cursed or treated with contempt and disdain, it added.
———–
In conclusion, don’t go yapping about us not discussing issues. We have done so many many times, but you, drunk with the cool aid of the myth and lie of a reformer bully, refuse to see the reality. I always wonder what kind of blinders you guys here on SC are you using in addition to a strangely concocted image of modernity and a selfish, detached from society image of what a decent country should look like.
October 9th, 2011, 7:51 am
Ya Mara Ghalba said:
#142 Syrialover (who sounds like a straight-up anti-Syrian) says: “It’s about the economy, stupid”. It applies every time to every election everywhere, always. It’s also fuelling the Arab Spring uprisings. And if a genuine oppostion uses that slogan in a true election, the Assadists…. [will lose the election].
#157 DFGIB says in a similar vein: “I am sure that when people are presented with a credible plan for getting this country back on track they won’t be voting for Assad.” I’ve already explained why I disagree with that full sentence from DFGIB, but let me reiterate that the sentence’s first half is still very hypothetical. To illustrate:
Thus, that organization is (a) still sincerely thinking that ordinary Syrians can be talked into going out onto the streets in very big numbers to chant for unconstitutionally toppling the regime, (b) still not talking about competing in next year’s parliamentary elections, and (c) still not talking about the economy. I say it’s a recepie for total failure.
I also insist, and I trust the regime and its security forces to insist, that the only way we’re going to have “Democratic and National Change in Syria” is by the 2012 parliamentary elections followed by the 2014 Presidential election.
The election is not going to be about the economy because, for one thing, the Opposition is devoid of fresh and saleable economic ideas; and in the unlikely event they did come up with something worthwhile and popular, the regime would appropriate it for itself. On questions of the economy, nearly all of the captains of industry are (and are going to be) supporting the Assad’s party. So are the Trades Unions. When we have the captains of industry, the trades unions and the government all reading out of the same prayer book, and we have an opposition with no real experience in economic development matters, I can’t see how the Assad’s party could get beaten on that issue. But anyway the election is not going to be about the economy. All signs say the Opposition is going to emphasize “tyranny” and “corruption”. (I already posted on this board some months ago about the regime’s exposure to the corruption allegation, but the post does not come up at google search — why not?).
Of the seventeen points I made at #121 above, here’s my favourite:
As I see it the parlimentary election campaign will consist of sundry semi-anonymous and semi-disreputable dissent parties campaigning against the Establishment party. With that view, I must expect the Establishment party to win by at least as wide a margin as Mubarak’s party used to win by in Egypt under somewhat similar circumstances.
That reminds me of a totally different point, coming to mind by mention of Mubarak’s Egypt. I assume you know the place the MB and similar parties had in Egypt’s political landscape over the years. I now believe Syria’s political landscape is not going to see the appearance of a similar thing, because the Syrian Establishment — specifically the better educated Sunnis, who are the sole arbiters of this matter, I believe — have “opted for secularism to promote national unity”. A quasi-religious party would lack support from the society’s Establishment and would carry the millstone of sectarianism around its neck. Syria’s Grand Mufti Ahmad Hassoun recently said this year’s new legal ban on religious political parties is harmless to religion, a view with which I fully agree. You may well say that just because the Establishment has accepted that this is going to be Syria’s way, it does not follow that the wider masses have or will accept the same. You could be right. But I believe the masses will follow the Establishment. More fundamentally, I believe an Establishment is established.
October 9th, 2011, 8:02 am
majedkhaldoun said:
Regretting the killing of Mishaal Tammo, the regime released Nawwaf Al Bashir
October 9th, 2011, 8:04 am
Revlon said:
A father seeks refuge in Turkey; His 16 year old son undergoes torture in a regime’s prison, while his other 13 year old boy went hiding.
تحقيق :أب سوري يفر الى تركيا بعد سجن احد نجليه واختباء الاخر
2011/10/08
انطاكية /تركيا /رويترز/
http://www.sooryoon.net/?p=34944
مع ايداع احد نجليه السجن في سوريا واختباء الاخر ادرك ابو محمد البالغ من العمر 45 عاما ويعمل صائغا ان الشرطة السرية التابعة للرئيس السوري بشار الاسد تتعقبه لذلك ودع زوجته قبل اسبوعين واغلق
متجره وفر الى تركيا
وابو محمد مجرد واحد من الاف السوريين الذين فروا عبر انحاء الحدود منذ بدأ الاسد حملة دموية على الاحتجاجات المناهضة للحكومة قبل سبعة اشهر وقصته ليست فريدة
وقال ابو محمد //اتيت لانهم بدأوا يقتفون أثري// في اشارة الى قوات الامن السورية
واضاف //لم يتبق شبان في سوريا فهم اما في السجن او فروا الى دول اخرى النساء والمسنون فقط هم من تبقوا في القرى//
ويقول انه منذ ترك منزله في اللاذقية على الساحل الشمالي لسوريا قرب الحدود التركية لم يتحدث الى زوجته لان خطوط الهاتف مراقبة وابنه البالغ من العمر 13 عاما مختبئ في مكان ما في سوريا
وقال ابو محمد انه لم يكن امامه من خيار سوى الفرار بعدما اعتقلت قوات الامن ابنه البالغ من العمر 16 عاما خلال احتجاج مناهض للحكومة وعذبته
واضاف ابو محمد //اخذوا طفلي ولم يسمح لي بزيارته الا مرة واحدة لم اتعرف على وجهه بسبب التعذيب اضطررت للفرار الى تركيا//
وكان مكتب حقوق الانسان التابع للامم المتحدة قال يوم الخميس ان عدد القتلى في سوريا ارتفع الى اكثر من 2900 منذ بداية الاحتجاجات المطالبة بالديمقراطية في مارس اذار ويقول نشطاء ان الافا اخرين اختفوا او سجنوا
والصحفيون الغربيون ممنوعون الى حد بعيد من تغطية الاحداث في سوريا لذلك يصعب الحصول على تأكيد مستقل لعمليات القتل وروايات القمع الوحشي
وتنفي حكومة الاسد بشكل عام اي تقارير عن انتهاكات حقوق الانسان وتقول انه ليس امامها من خيار سوى استعادة القانون والنظام
وبدت الكابة على وجه ابو محمد لكنه كان حريصا على التخلص من همومه وهو يصف مشاهد قوات الامن وهي تقتل الرجال والنساء رميا بالرصاص في بلدته
وقال //رأيت بعيني رأسي امرة تقتل بالرصاص بينما كانت تنشر الغسيل خارج نافذتها لقد شاهدت اشخاصا يقتلون بالرصاص لدى خروجهم من المسجد بعد ادائهم الصلاة
//هؤلاء الاشخاص لم يكن معهم اسلحة وكانوا ابرياء تماما الجنود السوريون دخلوا قرية بدباباتهم وبدأوا اطلاق النار دون سابق انذار//
ويحتمي ابو محمد في احد المخيمات الحكومية الستة في اقليم هاتاي على الحدود السورية والذي يشترك سكانه في الروابط الثقافية والعرقية مع جيرانهم العرب
وتقول الحكومة التركية انه يوجد نحو 7600 سوري يعيشون في المخيمات حتى مطلع الاسبوع ولا تشير تركيا اليهم على انهم لاجئون بل تصفهم //بالضيوف// قائلة ان بوسعهم المجئ والذهاب كما يشاؤون
وفي حين تحاول الحكومة ابعاد وسائل الاعلام عن المخيمات للحفاظ على امن السكان سمحت لرويترز بدخول نادر الى احد المخيمات الاسبوع الماضي
وينام الرجال والنساء والاطفال في المخيم الذي يؤوي نحو الف شخص في خيام نصبت داخل مبنى مهجور في حين تعمل الخيام المنصوبة خارجه كفصول دراسية مؤقتة ويجري توفير التعليم من المستوى الابتدائي الى الثانوي
وداخل احد الفصول ردد الاطفال قائلين //مرحبا كيف حالكم// باللغة التركية التي تعلموها حديثا واغلب المدرسين من المنطقة المحلية لان كثيرا من سكان اقليم هاتاي الذي كان جزءا من سوريا في وقت من الاوقات يتحدثون كلا من التركية والعربية
لكن بينما يخرج الاطفال للعب في الفناء في الخارج متناسين فيما يبدو محنتهم يجلس الرجال على المقاعد في احباط وملل
واحضر ابو ماجد /46 عاما/ اسرته بأكملها من جسر الشغور في شمال سوريا بعدما بدأت الشرطة التردد على منزله يوميا محذرة اياه من مغبة المشاركة في الاحتجاجات
وقال ابو ماجد //عندما بدأت الاحتجاجات كانوا بأتون الى منزلي كل يوم ويقولون /اذا شاركت في هذه الاحتجاجات فسنودعك السجن/ فاض بي الكيل واتيت الى هنا
//الوضع في سوريا سيء جدا بالامس كان الجيش يطلق النار عشوائيا على الناس//
وابلغ ناشطون وشهود هذا الصيف عن قيام قوات الامن التي تستخدم قنابل الغاز المسيل للدموع وطائرات الهليكوبتر باطلاق النار على الحشود في جسر الشغور وابلغت الامم المتحدة عن عمليات اعتقال عشوائية في المنطقة
ووصل ابو سيف وهو طالب جامعي من اللاذقية عمره 24 عاما الى المخيم قبل نحو اربعة اشهر وناشد المجتمع الدولي بوقف العنف في بلاده
وقال //اتيت لان الاسد وانصاره يقتلون الجميع حتى الصبية والابقار والحمير
//يجب الا يظل العالم صامتا القذافي فقد شرعيته في عيون المجتمع الدولي في 16 يوما لكن لم يحدث شيء بالنسبة للاسد بعد سبعة اشهر//
October 9th, 2011, 8:19 am
Mina said:
Sorry for preaching in the desert, but HAYTHAM MANNA GAVE A LONG INTERVIEW TO AL-AKHBAR.
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/syria%E2%80%99s-manna-ghalioun-and-trinity-successful-revolt
Syria’s Manna: On Ghalioun and the Trinity of a Successful Revolt
By: Othman Tazghart
Published Saturday, October 8, 2011
Syrian opposition activist Haytham Manna speaks about the “trinity” of a successful revolution in Syria, his take on the newly formed Syrian National Council and his recent fallout with prominent dissident Burhan Ghalioun.
Othman Tazghart (OT): What are your reservations about the recent Istanbul conference? Why have you refused to join the Syrian National Council formed as a result?
Haytham Manna (HM): This Council is the result of an initiative by a group whose identity is connected to one ideology. It was not authorized by the political opposition or the youth movement inside the country. This group spent 55 days promoting the need for such a council on the basis that it will bring the revolutionary youth out of this crisis, solve all their problems, and facilitate material help, international recognition, a no-fly zone, and so on. Over the last month and a half, there have been repeated attempts to introduce Libyan vocabulary into the Syrian revolution. The people who have done this are professionals, they do not belong to any known political group. They call themselves ‘independents’ or the ‘Independent Islamic Movement.’ This group has sought to impose their plan on everyone else from the beginning and they failed in their first two attempts in Istanbul.
There was a joint attempt by all the major political groups to form a ‘National Syrian Alliance’ that would include the real political forces within the country. But the Istanbul group tried to weaken this alliance by appealing to some of its members to join the National Council instead. They claim that the difficult part is forming the council, after which the world would recognize them and facilitate miracles, allowing the revolution to carry on and succeed, while reinforcing the role of the youth in it. Sale of this illusion went hand in hand with attempts to takeover the unified consensus work being carried out between various political movements. It gave the National Council a specific ideological coloring, where the Islamists were granted 60 percent of council membership, when their real weight within the opposition is a fraction of that.
Moreover, this council lacks modesty, because those who formed it assert that they represent the majority in the revolution, including the coordinating committees. They claim that they will save the revolution and change the course of history. This will certainly reflect negatively on them when people discover their real size, the limits of their representation, and their modest means; with all due respect to some who have supported them.
OT: Do you think that making Dr. Burhan Ghalioun, a man with genuine credibility, the president of the council will help guarantee against such pitfalls as militarization of the uprising or foreign intervention?
HM: I have said several times, particularly during my last visit to Tunisia, that the Tunisian revolution gave us three basic principles. The first is the peaceful nature of the revolution. The second is the absence of the idol. There are no idols or individual leaders, only working groups who offer democratic solutions and think in a collective manner and seek consensus and pluralistic mechanisms that respect the efforts of these people while limiting their power. The third principle is the secular nature of the collective movement. This trinity for me is pertinent when it comes to Syria. I do not believe that any one person, whoever they are, can prevent all mistakes, especially when his position changs several times in the last few days. We want to escape the individual dictatorship of Arab rulers, so it does not make sense to devote our work to dictatorship and individualism.
OT: You have close ties with Dr. Burhan Ghalioun. From the beginning of the protests in Syria you have agreed on the peaceful and secular nature of the revolution. What are the reasons behind the differences that have arisen between you lately?
HM: There were no differences until the last meeting in Berlin. Dr. Ghalioun had promised to attend the meeting of the National Coordination Committee in Berlin and we were waiting for him to arrive. We were surprised to find that he had changed course to Istanbul, with no apology, explanation, or even prior notice. We have not spoken since that day. I think that Dr. Ghalioun owes us an explanation. We need to understand why we should offer all these concessions to the Islamists in Istanbul when we are a country with 26 sects, creeds, and ethnic groups.
This means that this is a country where the relationship between religion and the state cannot be dealt with lightly. The Syrian Revolution of 1925 held that “religion is for God and the homeland is for all.” Today, minorities do not play an effective role, so we need a secular discourse to gain their confidence. The Syrian people are believers, but they don’t want any religious ideology to influence their constitution or their future. I wish that Dr. Ghalioun would not take that line. After the Hama massacre in the 1980s, Said Hawa, a major thinker in the Muslim Brotherhood, tried to explain the failures of The Fighting Vanguard, their military wing. He concluded that “the Syrian people love freedom, the republic, and democracy.” I hope that some people do not forget this lesson.
OT: Some are asking, is your opposition to the National Council because of the Muslim Brotherhood’s presence in it or because of the size of the representation they were given?
HM: It is well known that I worked hard to rehabilitate the Muslim Brotherhood with the other political parties in Syria. I facilitated their reconciliation with several political groups. I was one of the most prominent defenders of Islamist prisoners. Therefore, I have no problem with them. I see the Islamists as part of the political geography of all Islamic countries, not just Syria. But I believe that at most, 10 percent of Syrian society supports the Muslim Brotherhood. I do not understand why they are clambering for more representation.
I hope that they will be wise and rational enough to see that it is not in their interest or the interest of the revolution for them to exaggerate their role in the Syrian uprising. It is the dictatorship that is inflating their role to scare off international support. They’re serving this purpose by exaggerating their role at conferences and in the media.
OT: In one of your statements, you described the group who prepared for the Istanbul conference as the “Syrian Washington Club.” There is also talk of American funding of this meeting. What are the motives for this? Is it related to a specific political agenda?
HM: The American administration lost its battle with Hezbollah in Lebanon and with Iran over nuclear power. It is now seeking to turn the Syrian revolution into a sort of proxy war against Iranian influence in the region. It is no secret to anyone that America absolutely does not want to support a revolution which seeks secular democratic change in the Arab world. The democratic Syrian revolution is a true revolution, not a proxy war. There was definitely American funding behind the Istanbul group, official and unofficial. There was also funding from the Arab Gulf states. But I believe that money does not make or break a revolution. It affects revolutions negatively by reinforcing opportunism and conspiracy and weakening the role of the genuine fighters in certain phases. Money cannot change the course of history.
OT: Do you think that the Istanbul meeting and the National Council are in breach of the consensus document signed in Doha?
HM: Istanbul was a complete cancellation of what was agreed upon in Doha. In Doha, it was agreed that the Syrian National Alliance was the prime organizer of all efforts to later set up a Syrian political council. The agreement dictated that leadership for the national alliance should include the most significant political forces, on condition that greater weight be given to the opposition inside the country.
But this was circumvented when the Istanbul meetings were revived, after two failed attempts, by attracting some groups who are poorly represented at home, such as the Muslim Brotherhood and the Damascus Declaration signatories. The Brotherhood’s role in the revolution has been restricted to media work and sending aid, and the Damascus Declaration is no longer the force it once was. Moreover, the most prominent intellectuals behind the Damascus Declaration are now part of the National Coordination Committee and have not joined the Istanbul group.
OT: Are there differences between the Doha agreement and the Istanbul meeting on the issues of arming the revolution and foreign intervention?
HM: I have always sought to develop basic principles on which all the opposition agrees. We began by announcing the Oath of Dignity and Rights on June 17 as a supra-constitutional text that includes the basic principles of the Second Syrian Republic. This is definitely rejected by a large proportion of the Islamists, which is why this essential text was replaced in the National Council by a loose declaration. The National Council’s declaration is not based on a clear political program. All matters were left ambiguous so that each participant could explain them as they wished. One person speaks of military intervention, the other about humanitarian intervention, and another says no to foreign intervention in any form. For us, our program is clear, our loyalties are clear, and our demand for the downfall of the regime is clear. All these matters had been agreed on and there is no ambiguity or disagreement.
OT: How do you view the position of the opposition now? Do you think that differences within it are a type of democracy? Or do they deepen divisions and undermine the unity of the opposition?
HM: The Algerian Revolution was successful despite the fact that there were two separate liberation movements. This means that unity for unity’s sake is not a logical or rational program for change. We cannot accept agreement on any basis, just to preserve unity. The primary objective is a political program and finding common ground to conduct our work. I do not see this as the problem. It is the right of those who joined the National Council to try. Let them see for themselves how far this experiment can go. As for me, I believe it is my duty today to create a strong, civil, national, democratic axis, as it is the only guarantee for the revolution’s success. If the revolution becomes Islamicized, it will fail; if it becomes sectarian, it will fail; and if it becomes militarized, it will fail.
October 9th, 2011, 8:23 am
Revlon said:
أموي مباشر – Omawi Live
أموي مباشر #syria •◄ وصلتنا أنباء موثوقة من مصدر عسكري على أرض الواقع في ادلب : الانشقاقات وتبادل اطلاق النار الذي يحصل هناك فوق التصور حتى ان الجيش السوري لايعلم من انشق ومن لايزال معه وانه بعد التسريح الذي حصل في بداية الشهر الجاري صار الجيش في اضعف احواله↓↓..
2 hours ago
October 9th, 2011, 8:33 am
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
@ Ya Mara Ghalba
“Thus, that organization is (a) still sincerely thinking that ordinary Syrians can be talked into going out onto the streets in very big numbers to chant for unconstitutionally toppling the regime, (b) still not talking about competing in next year’s parliamentary elections, and (c) still not talking about the economy. I say it’s a recepie for total failure.”
Ok, I just want to make something very clear. Assad may have all the trappings of government, but we both know he lacks legitimacy; he wasn’t democratically elected. So all this talk about how protestors wanting to topple the government is unconstitutional is a load of rubbish. It might well be unconstitutional, but please, the constitution supports a one-part dictatorship, it’s hardly the Bill of Rights. This is what people find so infuriating about your position. You turn a blind eye to what is obvious: the President should not have been locking up political dissidents. I have a friend who spent five years in jail for seeking to set-up an opposition party. He’s not a religious nut, he just thinks the country has been poorly managed.
October 9th, 2011, 8:37 am
Revlon said:
20 unarmed, civilian Martyrs, including a 12 year old boy fell vicims to Jr Wa2dulfitnah operation today.
AlFati7a upon their souls,
May God bless their families with solace and empower them with patience.
حركة سوريا شباب من أجل الحرية Youth Syria For Freedom
بلغ عدد شهداء يوم السبت 8/10 عشرون شهيدا :
ريف دمشق :
1- الشهيد امين ياسين خبية من مدينة دوما
2- الشهيد اياد المبيض 26 سنة من مدينة دوما
3- الشهيد عبد الكريم محجوب أبو محمود من مدينة دوما إستشهد متأثراً بجراحه
4- الشهيد محمد الصايغ في مدينة الضمير استشهد تحت التعذيب
حماة :
5- الشهيد جهاد واصل الحسين 25 سنة من قرية جبرين
6- الشهيد مأمون فايز الحسين من قرية جبرين
7- الشهيد عبد المعين السراج ابو رماح
ادلب :
8- الشهيد صلاح طعمة من سهل الغاب التويني
9- الشهيد خلدون محمد ياسين من سهل الغاب التويني
القامشلي :
10- الشهيد إسماعيل عبد العزيز حاجي
11- الشهيد فهد جمعة
12- الشهيد جمال العمر، 67 سنة
13- الشهيد الطفل محمد فواز
14- الشهيد محمد صالح عبدي
15- الشهيد جمال حسين حسين من قرية ناف كوره
16- الشهيد اسماعيل عبد العزيز من عامودا
حمص :
17- الشهيد الطفل عبد المنعم أحمد الكفت سنة12 من دير فول
18- الشهيد عبد الناصر سليم الجندلي من دير بعلبة
19- الشهيد طلال الترجمان استشهد تحت التعذيب
20- الشهيد عبد الناصر سليم النكدلي من دير بعلبة
قال الله تعالى : { وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتًا بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ }
2 hours ago
October 9th, 2011, 8:45 am
Revlon said:
ثلاثة تطورات بارزة في الأزمة السورية
الأحد 12/11/1432 هـ – الموافق 9/10/2011 م
مركز الجزيرة للدراسات
http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F44AAD70-17F3-48C2-91B8-45A2329C232A.htm?GoogleStatID=24
بمرور الأسبوع التاسع والعشرين، تشهد المواجهة الطويلة بين الشعب السوري ونظامه الحاكم ثلاثة تطورات بالغة الأهمية، سيكون لها أثر بالغ على مجريات الأزمة الطاحنة التي تعيشها سورية:
تزايد معدلات الانشقاق في الجيش العربي السوري، ونزوع متزايد للضباط والجنود المنشقين إلى خوض مواجهات مسلحة مع قوات الأمن والجيش التي تهاجم الأهالي والمحتجين في المدن والبلدات السورية.
تفاقم الأزمة الاقتصادية – المالية لنظام الحكم.
نجاح المجلس الوطني المنعقد في اسطنبول في توسيع دائرة عضويته، لتضم القطاع الأكبر من قوى المعارضة السورية في داخل وخارج البلاد.
فيما يلي محاولة لقراءة كل هذه التطورات الهامة، وما يمكن أن تتركه من أثر على سياق الثورة السورية والأزمة التي تلفّ البلاد.
انشقاقات وتوجه للعمل المسلح
تدهور أوضاع سورية الاقتصادية
الإعلان عن تشكيل المجلس الوطني الموسع
دلالات واستنتاجات
انشقاقات وتوجه للعمل المسلح
شهدت الانتفاضة السورية، منذ منتصف الصيف، دلائل متفرقة على توجه لحمل السلاح ضد قوات الأمن والجيش. ولكن هذا التوجه ظل مقصوراً على مجموعات صغيرة من السوريين الذين حركتهم على الأرجح دوافع الثأر والغضب. ولكن الاشتباكات المسلحة التي اندلعت منذ محاولة قوات الأمن والجيش اقتحام مدينة الرستن في 27 سبتمبر/ أيلول، والتي استمرت لأربعة أيام، تؤشر في صورة كبيرة إلى بروز بُعد العسكرة في الانتفاضة الشعبية السورية. الحقيقة أن القوات المهاجمة لم تستطع في النهاية اقتحام الرستن إلا بعد حشد مئات الدبابات والعربات المصفحة، وإيقاع دمار كبير بالمدينة ومنازل الأهالي. وتفيد تقارير دوائر المعارضة السورية أن أعداد القتلى تجاوزت المائة.
تعتبر الرستن ومحيطها العشائري منطقة ذات طابع خاص من حيث علاقتها بالجيش السوري، إذ تذكر تقارير أن 17 ألف ضابط وجندي على الأقل من العسكريين ينحدرون من الرستن وجوارها، مما يجعلها واحدة من أهم الخزانات البشرية للجيش السوري. والمؤكد أن العناصر المسلحة التي واجهت اقتحام الرستن تنتمي في أغلبها إلى ما بات يعرف بالجيش السوري الحر، المشكل من جنود وضباط منشقين خلال الأشهر القليلة الماضية، قرروا الانضواء في كتائب منظمة لحماية الأهالي من هجمات قوات الجيش والأمن وميليشيات النظام القمعية. ونظراً للعلاقة الخاصة بين منطقة الرستن والجيش، وأن أعداداً كبيرة نسبياً من المنشقين هم أصلاً من أبناء المنطقة، فربما كان اختيار الرستن لإظهار مقدرة الجيش السوري الحر على المواجهة أمراً منطقياً.
بيد أن ثمة مؤشرات على أن المواجهات المسلحة لا تقتصر على الرستن، فهناك مواجهات مشابهة، وإن على نطاق أضيق، اندلعت في الوقت نفسه في منطقة حماة. وكانت أخرى شبيهة قد سجلت في مناطق أخرى من سورية، لاسيما في ريف دمشق وريف إدلب ومنطقة الحدود السورية – اللبنانية. بعض الاشتباكات نجم عن هجمات خططت لها مجموعات مسلحة، وبعضها الآخر عن هجمات الجيش على مواقع يعتقد بأن الجنود المنشقين تحصنوا فيها، وثالثة اندلعت تلقائياً بفعل انشقاقات جديدة في صفوف الجيش.
على أن منذ بداية الانتفاضة السورية ووسائل إعلام النظام تروج لوجود جماعات إرهابية مسلحة تنشط في أنحاء البلاد، ولكن تلك الادعاءات في الواقع استهدفت تسويغ عمليات القتل والقمع الدموية التي استخدمها النظام ضد جموع المواطنين المحتجين. الحقيقة أن حركة الاحتجاج السورية انطلقت سلمية ولا تزال في تجلياتها العظمى كذلك. المتغير الطارئ على الانتفاضة الشعبية كان حركة انشقاق الضباط والجنود الذين لم تستطع ضمائرهم احتمال الأعباء الأخلاقية والدينية لقتل شعبهم.
بدأت الانشقاقات المعلنة عن الجيش بخروج الملازم أول عبد الرزاق محمد طلاس يوم 6 يوينو/ حزيران. وبعد ثلاثة أيام أعلن المقدم حسين هرموش انشقاقه هو الآخر، وقد أثارت عملية القبض عليه من الاستخبارات السورية مؤخراً قدراً واسعاً من الجدل. وفي 3 أغسطس/ آب أصدر العقيد رياض الأسعد، أرفع الضباط المنشقين رتبة، البيان الأول للجيش السوري الحر في إشارة إلى توجه الجنود المنشقين لتنظيم أنفسهم.
طبقاً لتصريحات العقيد الأسعد (رويترز- 30 سبتمبر/ أيلول)، فإن تعداد الجنود والضباط المنضوين في صفوف الجيش السوري الحر بلغ 10 آلاف عنصر. هذا رقم كبير بالطبع وليس هناك من طريقة للتأكد من حقيقته. ولكن تقديرات أخرى تشير إلى أن تعداد المنشقين المنضوين تحت راية الجيش الحر لا يتجاوز مئات من الجنود انضمت إليهم مئات أخرى من الأهالي المدربين. ولكن هذا لا يمنع أن تكون أعداد المنشقين قد وصلت فعلاً إلى آلاف من الجنود والضباط لم يتخذ جميعهم قرار الانخراط في صفوف الجيش الحر بعد.
في سورية، كما في معظم أنحاء المجال العربي، ليس من الصعب الحصول على السلاح، لاسيما إن كان المسلحون ضباطاً وجنوداً عملوا في القوات المسلحة حتى وقت قريب، وكانت حاجتهم للسلاح تتعلق بعمليات أقرب إلى نشاطات حرب العصابات. ولكن استمرار المواجهات المسلحة واتساع نطاقها سيتطلب توفير إمكانات مادية متزايدة ليس من الواضح كيفية توفرها.
تدهور أوضاع سورية الاقتصادية
في حديث لصحيفة الغارديان البريطانية (29 سبتمبر/أيلول) أشار مدير سلسلة من الفنادق بمدينة دمشق إلى أن فنادقه كانت محجوزة تقريباً بأكملها في فبراير/شباط الماضي لعدة شهور قادمة، لكن كل تلك الحجوزات ألغيت خلال أسابيع من اندلاع الانتفاضة الشعبية.
ويعتقد أن قطاع السياحة السوري، الذي يدرّ على البلاد ما يقارب 8 مليارات دولار في العام قد أصيب كلية بالشلل. حتى السوريون المغتربون لم تعد سوى قلة ضئيلة منهم ترغب في قضاء إجازاتها السنوية في بلادها.
ولا يمثل قطاع السياحة سوى مؤشر واحد على الانحدار السريع الذي يعاني منه الاقتصاد السوري بعد مرور أكثر من ستة شهور على الانتفاضة الشعبية. ففي أغسطس/آب الماضي قال حاكم البنك المركزي السوري (رفضت واشنطن منحه تأشيرة دخول مؤخراً للالتحاق باجتماعات البنك وصندوق النقد الدوليين) إن البنك أنفق زهاء بليوني دولار حتى الآن للدفاع عن قيمة الليرة السورية (من رصيد لا يتجاوز 16 مليار دولار من الاحتياطي الوطني). ولكن الواضح أن جهود البنك المركزي ليست كافية للحفاظ على وضع الليرة التي يتم تبادل 73 منها لشراء اليورو الواحد في قطاع العملات الخاص، بينما السعر الرسمي لا يتجاوز 66 ليرة لليورو.
وتكاد حركة الدولار تتوقف كلية، لداخل وخارج البلاد، في مؤشر للتراجع الكبير في حجم التبادل التجاري استيراداً وتصديراً. وكانت وزارة التجارة والاقتصاد قد فرضت حظراً على استيراد السيارات وعدد آخر من السلع الكمالية، في محاولة لوقف استنزاف رصيد الدولة الاحتياطي من العملات الأجنبية (سرعان ما تراجعت عنه خشية من الأثر التضخمي الهائل للعقوبات الغربية). ولكن المشكلة أن مثل هذا التدهور الاقتصادي يوقف نشاطات الآلاف من رجال الأعمال الذين لم يزل أكثرهم أقرب إلى وجهة نظر النظام منهم إلى وجهة نظر المحتجين. ويقول ناشطون معارضون ومراقبون من داخل البلاد إن العمل في الموانئ السورية الرئيسية وصل إلى أدنى مستوياته على الإطلاق. وبالرغم من أن الدولة لم تزل تدفع رواتب موظفيها بانتظام، فقد فرضت مؤخراً ضريبة إضافية عليهم لدعم ميزانيتها.
بيد أن العبء الأكبر على واردات الدولة سيأتي من العقوبات الاقتصادية والمالية ثقيلة الوطأة التي فرضتها الولايات المتحدة ودول الاتحاد الأوروبي. أحد أبرز العقوبات يتعلق بوقف استيراد النفط السوري الخام، الذي سيبدأ مفعوله في منتصف شهر أكتوبر/تشرين أول الحالي. والمعروف أن سورية تنتج حوالي 400 ألف برميل من النفط يومياً تصدر منها 150 ألف برميل. هذا رقم ضئيل بالطبع بالنظر إلى حجم سوق النفط العالمية، ولن يترك حظره أثراً يذكر على هذه السوق. ولكن بالنظر إلى أن تصدير هذه الكمية من النفط يدر على الميزانية السورية 6 مليارات دولار سنوياً، فمن السهل تصور أثره. أما ادعاء المسؤولين السوريين سهولة وجود أسواق أخرى لتصدير النفط فلا يبدو أن هناك ما يؤيده، إذ أن النفط السوري من النوع الثقيل الذي لا توجد مصافي نفط مؤهلة لاستخدامه سوى في عدد من الدول الأوروبية.
من المبكر بالطبع القول إن الاقتصاد السوري في طريقه إلى الانهيار أو أن مقدرات الدولة قد جفت كلية. ولكن حجم الاقتصاد السوري صغير نسبياً، ولا يتجاوز أكثر من مائة وقليل من المليارات.
وبالرغم من أن تقارير مبكرة أفادت باستعداد إيران لتقديم عون مالي أو قرض للنظام السوري بعدة مليارات من الدولارات، فإنه لم تتوفر حتى الآن أدلة تؤكد هذه التقارير. مهما كان الأمر، وحتى إن كانت إيران تعتزم تقديم مثل هذا الدعم، فمن المؤكد أن المساعدات الإيرانية ستظل محدودة وقاصرة عن مواجهة أعباء النظام السوري. سورية على أية حال دولة بأربعة وعشرين مليوناً من السكان وليست منظمة سياسية.
الإعلان عن تشكيل المجلس الوطني الموسع
يتعلق التطور الثالث في الساحة السياسية السورية بالإعلان في مدينة اسطنبول (الأحد 2 أكتوبر/تشرين أول) عن تشكيل المجلس الوطني السوري في صيغته الموسعة التي تضم القطاع الأكبر من قوى المعارضة والحراك الشعبي بما في ذلك: الهيئة الإدارية للمجلس الوطني التي عملت طوال شهرين من أن أجل تحقيق هذا الإنجاز الكبير، إعلان دمشق، الإخوان المسلمون، التجمعان الرئيسان للتنسيقيات، عدة قوى كردية، شخصيات سورية ليبرالية معارضة بارزة مثل برهان غليون. سيضم المجلس زهاء 230 عضواً تتشكل منهم أمانة عامة من 29 عضواً يمثلون كافة الكتل والتوجهات التي انضوت تحت مظلة المجلس، وهيئة رئاسية من سبعة أعضاء يتداولون رئاسة المجلس لفترة زمنية محددة.
كتب بيان الإعلان عن المجلس بلغة راديكالية ومسؤولة في آن، مطالباً بتغيير جذري وشامل في نظام الحكم ومؤكداً على استقلال سورية ورفض التدخل الأجنبي العسكري. ولكن بيان المجلس أكد في الوقت نفسه على مسؤولية المجتمع الدولي في الحفاظ على حياة السوريين الذين يتعرضون للموت والاعتقال والتعذيب على يد قوات النظام العسكرية والأمنية.
خلال ساعات من الإعلان عن ولادة المجلس، الذي لم تكتمل هيئاته القيادية بعد، انطلقت المظاهرات المؤيدة له في كافة أنحاء سورية، لتستمر طوال اليومين التاليين، ورفعت مظاهرات يوم الجمعة شعار “المجلس الوطني يمثلني”. وبذلك يكون الشعب السوري قد حسم الجدل حول مسألة تمثيل الثورة وتوحيد قوى المعارضة. كما صدرت عبارات ترحيب بالمجلس من الناطقين الرسميين باسم الحكومتين الأميركية والفرنسية. ويعتقد أن دولاً غربية، إضافة إلى تركيا وبعض الدول العربية، ستؤسس خلال الأسابيع القليلة القادمة علاقات اتصال وعمل وتشاور مع المجلس.
وليس ثمة شك في أن تشكيل المجلس يشير إلى نجاح قوى المعارضة، بخلفياتها الإثنية والفكرية والطائفية المختلفة إضافة إلى مجموعات الحراك الشعبي المحلية، في تجاوز عقبة كبيرة أثارت دوماً الكثير من الأسئلة حول ما إن كان بإمكان الثورة السورية أن تتقدم للعالم بعنوان سياسي يتمتع بثقل تمثيلي مقنع. وقد كانت غيبة مثل هذا الجسم التمثيلي مصدر ارتياح كبير للنظام والملتفين حوله.
الآن يجدر بالنظام أن يستشعر قلقاً إضافياً بفعل هذا التطور، قلق لا يقل عن إخفاقه في قمع واحتواء الحراك الشعبي المتسع.
دلالات واستنتاجات
لم يكن خافياً من البداية أن سورية ستكون واحدة من أصعب حلقات ما بات يعرف بالربيع العربي، ومحاولة الشعوب العربية صناعة تغيير تاريخي تحولي في حياتها السياسية. مع نهاية أغسطس/آب بدا وكأن كفة ميزان القوى قد مالت لصالح الحراك الشعبي. ولكن حملة قمع غير مسبوقة طوال الأسابيع التالية، في سياق من الصمت والتجاهل العربي والدولي، أعادت الأوضاع إلى ما كانت عليه في منتصف أشهر الصيف: حركة شعبية غير قادرة على إطاحة النظام الحاكم، ونظام عاجز عن اجتثاث أو احتواء الحركة الشعبية. ما أدى إليه هذا الوضع الارتدادي كان اتساع الفجوة بين الشعب والنظام وتوليد حالة من القنوط في أوساط القوى الشعبية، في وقت تجاوز عدد ضحايا الثورة الثلاثة آلاف قتيل ومائة ألف معتقل.
هذا هو السياق الذي يدفع الثورة السورية إلى وجهة عسكرية، بمعنى التخلي عن الطابع السلمي المطلق للثورة والتوجه إلى حمل السلاح للدفاع عن النفس. التجلي الأهم والأبرز لهذا التوجه يتمثل في تنظيم الضباط والجنود المنشقين عن الجيش، والذين تزداد أعدادهم في صورة متسارعة، أنفسهم كقوة مقاتلة.
ليس من السهل بعد تقدير المدى الذي يمكن أن يصل إليه هذا التطور في مجريات الثورة السورية، أو قدرة الجيش السوري الحر على الصمود. ولكن في حال اتسع نطاق هذه الظاهرة فلن تساهم فقط في انهيار النظام ومؤسسات القمع التي يرتكز إليها، ولكن أيضاً في تفاقم المسألة الطائفية، فالمؤكد أن كل الضباط والجنود المنشقين حتى الآن هم من المسلمين السنة.
من جهة أخرى، وفي مقابل تصاعد حملة القمع الدموي التي يتعهدها النظام، والتي نجحت حتى الآن في منع التظاهرات من تكرار ظاهرة مئات الألوف التي عرفتها حماة في منتصف الصيف ومنع رياح الثورة من الوصول إلى وسط مدينتي دمشق وحلب، فإن خسائر النظام على الصعيدين الاقتصادي والسياسي تبدو فادحة. تشير التقديرات إلى أن الاقتصاد السوري في طريقه للانكماش هذا العام بمعدل 2 بالمائة على الأقل. أما إيرادات الدولة المالية فستتعرض لضربات مؤلمة بفعل: انهيار السياحة، تراجع معدلات الإنتاج والتصدير، العقوبات المفروضة على النفط السوري، كما على نشاطات شركات ومؤسسات سورية مملوكة لمقربين من النظام.
أما على الصعيد السياسي، فقد نجحت قوى المعارضة والحركة الشعبية في تأسيس مجلس وطني موحد، مما سيسهم في المزيد من عزلة النظام. وإن كان الفيتو الروسي–الصيني المشترك ضد مشروع القرار المقدم لمجلس الأمن الدولي ضد سياسات النظام السوري يعني أن الموقف الدولي لم يزل عاجزاً عن تقديم عون ملموس للشعب السوري، فذلك لا يجب أن يكون مصدر ارتياح كبير للنظام في دمشق. هذا الفيتو ليس سوى توكيد جديد على انقسام القوى الكبرى من المسألة السورية، وليس على تحسن المناخ الدولي للنظام. ما ينبغي مراقبته الآن هو مدى استعداد الدول العربية للتعامل مع المجلس الوطني السوري.
October 9th, 2011, 8:59 am
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
“specifically the better educated Sunnis, who are the sole arbiters of this matter, I believe — have “opted for secularism to promote national unity”.
If everyone is given the vote then it is no longer important what a small elite think. Their vote counts no more than someone else’s.
You mention Mubarak, but I would proffer Erdogan as a better example. All that needs to happen is for some moderate figure to follow his lead. The one complaint you hear time and time again on the streets of Syria is that there is no longer a middle class. These industrialists that you speak of are despised by the average person. And let’s be clear here, it is the average person that matters because there are many more of them than there are rich industrialists.
I can think of some policies for an opposition party:
National service for everyone. You don’t get to go to Dubai for a few years and then come back. Neither can you pay some General USD 10,000 to get out of it.
Everyone pays tax, even rich industrialists.
A free press. That means that you can not only criticise ministers, but also the President. And we don’t want to hear all this crap about how someone has ‘weakened the country’s resolve’ or some other rubbish. A culture of investigative journalism needs to be encouraged.
An overhaul of the education system; an English literature exam should not be multiple choice.
Again, all the opposition has to do is point out the many failures of the current government. You say that Assad will be able to appropriate the opposition’s polices. Yes, he could do, but not with any credibility. Why would you vote for someone who has failed so miserably in the first place?
October 9th, 2011, 9:03 am
Som guy no longer in damascus said:
Mina,
I was not discussing whether it is good to secede or not, I was discussing about the right to demonstrate , exert efforts and ask for secession. The Turks are hosti
October 9th, 2011, 9:15 am
Some guy no longer in damascus said:
Mina,
I was not discussing whether it is good to secede or not, I was discussing about the right to demonstrate , exert efforts and ask for secession. The Turks are hostiLe about this issue, but the spaniards acknowledge the right for catalans to gather in favor of secession.
About Palestine,
How many UNSC resolutions are anti Israeli? What did Israel apply of them? Even if the international court did rule in favor of Israel, they would dispute thisJust like the golan.
October 9th, 2011, 9:22 am
Husam said:
1) Crossed the Beirut-Damascus border like a charm last week. No hostility, no stories, same old. No one, I mean no one gets checked. There is no random checks (ie. US-Canada border), no intelligence, etc… The bathroom was a hole in the ground, no running water at all, no towels, no soap. Floor was full of crap and bugs. What a shame, the worst public toilet in the smallest town in Cuba is far cleaner. We are in the stone-age people.
2) If they know that the Turkish Intelligence, Terrorists, Mosad, Bandits, etc… are in Syria wouldn’t they set up check points along the border and be more vigilant at the very least? Seriously, I can’t figure us out.
3) I am 100% sure that there are a hundreds foreign operatives inside Syria, it is so easy to get in/out. I mean why smuggle a stereo on a donkey when you can smuggle anything right pass the incompetent bunch. Timo death could have been done by anybody. You guys (Majed, Revlon, etc…)are giving too much credit to the Regime. They were lost then, and they are even more lost now. Anyone could have done it.
4) I visited Turkey right after, and it blew me away. I am still in awe. Istanbul is NYC, L.A and Dubai all in one. What they have managed to do in the past 10 years is remarkable. Anyone who visited it lately knows what I am talking about. I still can’t get over it. The ottomans are coming back. I mean shit, if Arabs from KSA to Morocco can’t do anything right… send our clowns to Turkey for a few courses man.
5) All regime supporters: I agree that everyone will try to splice Syria into pieces. But, how can you defend such backwardness, abuse of people, and 40 years of Tyranny? And how can you sit down with such a mobster-family and negotiate with those who pushed Syria back a century?
October 9th, 2011, 9:29 am
Tara said:
MNA @246
No, not physical international intervention. It is not the way to do it. I never did and will never do.
You are absolutely right. Not in a million year…I would’ve even entertained the idea. The difference here MNA is the moral motive. Assad’s motive is power and greed. My motive is to save our people.
MINA
You asked me about the movie I liked giving me the impression that you are “the expert” on Iranian film making. I ignored you first then I told you what I liked the most. You made no comment. Apparently, you do not know what I am talking about. An expert would not have missed “The Willow Tree”. You are not an expert and probably you have not watched any movie.
October 9th, 2011, 9:32 am
Tara said:
Majed khaldoun
غباؤكم ينصرنا. Is the quote of the day.
The release of Nawwaf al Basheer and the murder of 5 mourners in Tamo funeral are yet other evidence that point to the killer.. Thug one that is.
This regime times and again prove its inferior intelligence in handling the crisis…unless Basahar advisor is a revolutionist in disguise determined to bring him down.
October 9th, 2011, 9:57 am
irritated said:
Husam
“Istanbul is NYC, L.A and Dubai all in one. What they have managed to do in the past 10 years is remarkable”
That is a very personal point of view that I certainly not share.
For a city that is a living historical museum, I don’t think it is anything of a “remarkable” achievement to make it look NYC, L.A or the monstruous Dubai.
October 9th, 2011, 9:59 am
Some guy no longer in damascus said:
Husam,
Yes the borders are poorly managed, and at the beginning of the crisis they would demand we open our laptops and they would search for files with” syrian govrment, Muslim brother hood, revolution” im serious. One of my friends had to correct them when they searched for goverment instead of government. I hope you noticed the luxurious duty free owned by none other than 7arami makhlouf? It’s such a contrast! Shitty facilities to do your customs but rami’s duty free is squeaky clean. Doesn’t that tell you something? Public services aren’t looked after but their enterprises are given excellent care.
Istanbul is light years ahead of Syria, it’s my favorite European city. This is why I say we can Learn a lot from the Turks.
October 9th, 2011, 10:00 am
sheila said:
To #202. Ghufran,
I completely agree with your assessment. It is impossible to tell who is killing whom in Syria today. The worst part is that no investigation will be credible, because it will be carried out by the regime, who happens to be a party in the conflict. It also uses torture and intimidation that renders its investigations worthless and without a shred of credibility. This is typically the best case scenario for independent observers, who can shed a light on these crimes. But the regime will not allow those free access and we all know why. The regime has committed and is still committing so many crimes that independent observes can uncover, that it becomes nonsensical for it to avoid being accused of a crime it did not commit to open the door and expose all those other crimes that it did commit and no one is actually even aware of yet.
October 9th, 2011, 10:08 am
zoo said:
Syria warns (countries) not to recognise opposition, vows reform
{…}
“Foreign Minister Walid Muallem warned that Damascus will retaliate against any state which recognises the Syrian National Council (SNC), formed in Istanbul in late August and uniting the key groups opposed to Assad’s rule.
“We will take significant measures against any country that recognises this illegitimate council,” Muallem told a news conference, as the newly formed opposition group lobbied for support in Cairo where the Arab League is based.
The SNC groups the Local Coordination Committees (LLC), an activist network spurring protests in Syria, the long-banned Muslim Brotherhood as well as Kurdish and Assyrian groups.
One of its members, Kurdish leader Meshaal Tamo, was assassinated on Friday, sparking the condemnation of the United States, France, the European Union and Turkey. Damascus blamed the assassination on a “terrorist” group.
“There are groups carrying out acts of violence in Syria and who have killed a great number of martyrs. The West speaks of a peaceful revolution and does not admit these groups exist but arms them anyhow,” Muallem said.
He also issued a thinly veiled warning to Turkey which condemned the assassination as a “loathsome” act. “Syria will not stay with its arms crossed. If Turkey throws us a flower, we will send them one back,” he said.
{…}
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=syria-warns-not-to-recognise-opposition-vows-reform-2011-10-09
October 9th, 2011, 10:15 am
irritated said:
Sheila
“This is typically the best case scenario for independent observers”
Who do you suggest: Mehlis, Bellemare, Palmer? I wonder where you would find “independent” observers.
October 9th, 2011, 10:19 am
Mina said:
Tara 281
You are so funny. Did you swap job with another student since April? In April, when Jad and me mentioned you Iranian cinema, you answered you had never watched an Iranian movie! Just check for your old April posts.
Your job here is just to bring “Iran” almost everyday, and of course, to pretend you are a Syrian woman in the US.
October 9th, 2011, 10:21 am
irritated said:
Some guy not in Damascus
“This is why I say we can Learn a lot from the Turks”
Yes, especially jailing journalists.
“Out of all countries, Turkey has the highest number of journalists jailed in the world. And it beats its closest rivals, China and Iran, by a double margin.”
October 9th, 2011, 10:28 am
Mina said:
Husam,
Do you think the Istanbul miracle would have been possible without hundred thousands of Turks working mainly in Germany, Switzerland, France, and having sent a lot of money home in the last 30 years, plus generations in and out Turkey now speaking fluent German and English?
Sheila,
I disagree. I think such enquiries are taking place and details sent to the embassies. For example about Tammo’s killing, we can be sure that the witnesses and the person injured who was with him has described if the attack came from a car or not, inside his house or not. The rubbish we read in the Western newspapers often start from bad translations.
October 9th, 2011, 10:30 am
zoo said:
Tunisia Islamists storm university over veil ban
“Islamists stormed a university in Tunisia on Saturday after it refused to enrol a woman wearing a full-face veil, a staff member said, highlighting tensions over religion that are likely to dominate an election later this month.”
{…}
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=tunisia-islamists-storm-university-over-veil-ban-2011-10-09
October 9th, 2011, 10:31 am
jad said:
Now it’s more clear why mr makeup attacked Ghalyoun, he had the order from his master, mwafaq and sons. who’s motto is ‘let’s kill the children’, thye wants someone as blood thirsty as them to call for more killing, especially women and children:
——————————————–
“ولمن يريد أن يمتع ناظريه ، ويشفي غليله برؤية كيفية إعدام تشاوسيسكو وزوجته ، ويحلم ويصمم ، ويصر على إعدام بشار وجميع أفراد عائلته ، صغارا وكبارا ، رجالا ونساء ، دون أي تمييز ، فالمجرم يجب أن يُستأصل هو وجميع جذوره ، ولو كانوا أطفالا ( ولا تأخذكم بهما رأفة في دين الله ) فكما قتلوا أطفالنا ونساءنا ، فالحكم الإلهي يقتضي القتل بالمثل ، فتقتل أطفالهم ونساؤهم ، ولو تعلقوا بأستار الكعبة ( واقتلوهم حيث ثقفتموهم ، وأخرجوهم من حيث أخرجوكم ، والفتنة أشد من القتل )
————————————
Here is the masterpiece by sayed mwafaq alsibai against Ghalyoun:
إلى الأخوة جميع أعضاء المجلس الوطني السوري ( عامة )
إلى العضو برهان الدين غليون ( خاصة )
والى الأحرار من قوى المعارضة الشريفة
بخصوص لقاء غليون مع احمد منصور فأحب أن أقول لغليون:
لا يعجبنا إطلاقا كلامك ولا لقاؤك ولا طريقتك في الحديث ولا أفكارك ولا رؤياك ( إن كان هناك رؤية أصلا ً).
وان كان ممثل المجلس الوطني لسوريا جمعاء مهزوز ومتردد وبدون خطة عمل وغير واثق من نفسه فهذه مصيبة …
هل فعلا تعتقد انه لا يمكن أن يكون هناك رئيس للمجلس غيرك ؟؟
هناك الكثير من الأحرار الذين نثق فيهم ، فلا داعي لهذه الطريقة في الحديث عن نفسك .
وهنا أريد أن أناقش غليون ومن نصّبه على المجلس فيما يخص هذا اللقاء في نقاط سريعة:
1- أستاذ علوم اجتماعية فما دخله بالسياسة؟
2- احمد منصور: فضيتوا المجلس وروحتوا ليه بدون ماتنتخبوا الرئيس واللجان الفرعية؟
غليون: حسب التنظيم … هذا يعتبر موجود ضمنا !!! يعني الرئيس واللجان بيتشكلوا لحالهم !!
3- احمد منصور: هل سيعلن الاسبوع القادم في القاهرة عن اسم الرئيس واعضاء اللجان؟
غليون: أتصور ….
منصور: ماتتصورش …
يعني اذا مذيع استطاع الضغط عليك… فماذا ستفعل أمام رئيس دولة صغيرة ناهيك عن دولة كبرى ؟
4- كل حديث غليون : أظن – اعتقد – أتصور – ربما ….
5- غليون ( متأكد وواثق ): لسنا قلقين من مسألة الاعتراف بالمجلس وننتظر اعتراف الدول العربية ( تأكيد )
وعندما حشره منصور قال غليون: هذا لا يعني إننا سنحقق ولكني أتصور إنهم سيعترفون بنا.
شو غليون حتى اللي كنت متأكد فيها رجعت وقلت أتصور !!!
وهزي يا رجلين.
6- لما سأله منصور عن انضمام علويين للمجلس – طاش حجره. هدئ من روعك يا غليون…. وجاوب بطريقة سياسية احترافية ببساطة كنت جاوبت: نحن لا ننظر للشعب السوري على أساس الطائفية والجميع مادام انه مواطن سوري شريف هو عضو في المجلس.
7- غليون: لدينا دعم وهو موجود !!!
منصور: أي دعم هذا ؟؟
حتى غليون ما قدر يكون صريح ويستغل الفرصة بطلب دعم العالم السياسي والإنساني والأخلاقي.
9- غليون: ما عندي تفسير للموقف الروسي والصيني في مجلس ..!!! لكن ليش رئيس مجلس؟؟
10- غليون: هناك دول قطعوا العلاقات مع النظام .. (سحبوا السفراء) منصور: سحب السفير ليس قطع علاقة ..
غليون: هو شكل من قطع العلاقة … ارتبك ..
منصور: لا يعني قطع علاقة … يعني إذا ممثل سياسي ما بيعرف الفرق بين قطع العلاقات السياسية وكيف أشكالها !!!
11- منصور: الشعب يكافح وانتم تطلبون ..
غليون: المجلس خدمة للشعب السوري ( يعطيك العافية مستر غليون عالهخدمة فضلت علينا والله ).
12- غليون: نحن نكافح من اجل انتزاع الحــــكـم … وبعدين عدلها نكافح من اجل إسقاط النظام … قلي عــاد أيهما الصح ؟؟؟
13- غليون: كل الثورات في التاريخ سلمية !!! …
شو هالحكي يا سياسي ؟؟؟
مش هنحكي بالتاريخ وين الثورة الليبية اللي قبل كم يوم !!!
14- منصور: هل تشجعون على الانشقاق ؟؟
غليون: نحن نشجع الجيش بأكمله على أن يلتزم بقضية وثورة الشعب – يعني حتى كلمة انشقاق مش راضي يقولها غليون باشا ولا راضي يشجع على الانشقاقات !!
15- غليون: نحن نطالب الجيش السوري بان يتوقف عن القتل ونراهن عليه… لا انشاء الله هيسمعلك الجيش!!!
16- منصور: كيف تراهنون على الجيش ؟
طبعا غليون ارتبك ولا رد.
17- منصور: هل عندك رؤية عايزين ايه من الجيش؟
غليون: طبعاً عايزين الجيش يوقف مع الشعب .
منصور: ازاي بقى؟
غليون: هو المسؤول !!
ايه بتؤمر معلم غليون هنخبرهم.
18- غليون: المجلس سيتعامل مع ظاهرة الجيش الحر التي لم يخلقها المجلس ليضعهم ضمن استرايجية العمل الثوري !!!
ايه ارفعهم فلقة ياغليون .. والله ان كان انت هتعمللهم الاستراتيجية لا والله حررنا البلــــد.
19- منصور: هل وارد لديكم في المجلس التعامل عسكرياً في اطار الانشقاقات المتزايدة؟
غليون: لا !!!
ومصر انه لا يشجع الانشقاقات … ولا نريد تفكيك هذه المؤسسة الوطنية … كتيرعاجبتك هالمؤسسة ياغليون وبدك اياها ماتتفكك؟
20- غليون: حلب لم تخرج بسبب حجم القمع واحتلال الساحات والشوارع !!!
شو هالحكي الفارغ … يعني مابتعرف ترد
21- منصور: هل ترغبون بزيارة الجامعة العربية وتقديم طلب للدعم كما حصل مع ليبيا؟
غليون: لا !!! سنقوم بمشاورات ونحن لسنا مع التدخل العسكري والشعب سيحرر الأرض بنفسه!!!
يعني لا بدك دعم الجيش الحر ولا أصلا معترف فيهم كيف هتحرر البلد ؟؟ أنا أرى إن غليون من عوامل تأخير نجاح الثورة.
22- غليون: نريد حماية المدنيين بالتضامن الإنساني واحترام حقوق الإنسان؟
وحينما يقر لنا بحقنا في الحماية سنفاوض على طريقة هذه الحماية !!!…
عيش ياجديش معانتو ليلنا طويييييييييييييييل ؟
منصور(زهقان): وكيف هتكون الحماية؟
غليون: لجان امم متحدة ومراقبين دوليين …
منصور: معنى ذلك سيبقى النظام وعندك معادلات خطيرة في الطرح ؟ والله كشفتو يااحمد منصور وطبعا غليون ماعرف يجاوب وغير الموضوع!!!!
23- منصور: رؤيتكم ضبابية والليبيون كانوا واضحون.
غليون: الشعب يتعرض لحرب معلنة وجزء منها إبادة وسنتشاور مع الأشقاء حول وسائل حماية المدنيين … وين خطة عملك ياغليون؟
24- غليون: الجيش السوري تركيبته مخابراتية والجيش لم يعد جيش وهو منخور !!!!
يعني قبل شوي قلت بدك تصلح الجيش وتخليه يوقف مع الشعب وهلا ْبتقول انه مخابراتي ومنخور !! حيرتنا
25- غليون: يجب في مرحلة من المراحل أن ينهار هذا النظام وان لم ينهار هناك مشكلة !!! …
يالله نجتمع وندعي ينهار النظام مشان ما تصير مشكلة لغليون !!!
26- وفي حديث غليون عن السفراء الذين لم ينشقوا صار يدافع عنهم وطاش حجره وخربط بزيادة !!!
والله جن منصور منه
27- غليون: شكلنا المجلس حتى يمكن استقبال المنشقين .!!!
يا رجل إذا أنت مش معترف فيهم أصلا وماعم تدعوهم للانشقاق فعلى أي أساس هتستقبلهم؟
28- غليون: اعتقد وأتصور إنني مرشح لرئاسة المجلس ولا اعتقد انه لي منافسين وأنا مرشح بالتزكية !!!
والله إن كان الشعب السوري ما فيه غير غليون باشا للتزكية معناتو خلينا نرجع بيوتنا أحسن.!!!
29- غليون حول الدعم المالي: نحن شعب نصفه في الخارج .!!! يارجل مين بيصدقها هاي؟
30- غليون: لن اترك الجامعة والثقافة مهنتي الأساسية وأنا ألبي الواجب الوطني وساترك العمل السياسي حين سقوط النظام ..
طيب ممكن أستاذ غليون تترك السياسة لغيرك باعتبارك اعترفت انك مش سياسي وخليلنا واجبك الوطني بالثقافة أحسن؟
وشو بدنا فيك إذا تركت العمل السياسي أو لا ؟
بيهمنا تعهدك الخطي بعدم الترشح لأي منصب سياسي في الدورة الأولى بعد إسقاط النظام.
31- حينما سأله منصور عن سيناريوهات الثورة؟
لم يعرف أن يجيب وأجاب في وادي آخر.!!!
يعني حتى سيناريوهات ما عندك؟؟
32- في الختام سخر منصور منه وقال له: شكرا لاحتمالك هذه بروفة حوار رؤساء … الله يسترنا من هيك رئيس .
بقلم المعارض سيد موفق السباعي
October 9th, 2011, 10:31 am
Revlon said:
In April, Jr asked for a few weeks to finish off the uprising.
Last week, he told AlHus things have become quiet in Syria.
Now, Jr feels comfortable that the crisis will be over by year end!
He hinted to the danger of car bombs!
He described Erdogan as an empty character!
الأسد «المرتاح لنهاية المحنة نهاية السنة» يلمح إلى خطر السيارات المفخخة ويصف أردوغان بـ «الشخصية الجوفاء» ويتحدث عن موقفين في السعودية
2011/10/09
الرأي
http://www.sooryoon.net/?p=35024
غالباً ما كانت تصح على العلاقات اللبنانية – السورية نظرية «الاوعية المتصلة» لشدة «التداخل» السياسي والامني والاجتماعي «التاريخي»، الذي اخذ في العقود الاربعة الاخيرة شكل «التدخل» من طرف واحد يوم دخل الجيش السوري لبنان في النصف الثاني من سبعينات القرن الماضي ولم ينسحب الا في ابريل من العام 2005.
هذا «التداخل» بين العاصمتين (دمشق وبيروت) التي تفصل بينهما المسافة الاقصر على الاطلاق بين عواصم الدول المجاورة في العالم، يجعل المجريات السورية حدثاً لبنانياً بـ «امتياز». وها هي بيروت وكأنها «حديقة خلفية» لحراك يتصل برمته بما يجري في «الشقيقة» التي لطالما ادارت دفة الاوضاع في لبنان.
وها هي بيروت تضج باحاديث لزوار قصدوا دمشق والتقوا الرئيس السوري بشار الاسد، وبعمليات استطلاع ديبلوماسية متعددة الجنسية، وتقارير عن «آخر التطورات» ومآلها في الكواليس السياسية، وبضوضاء اعلامية ترتبط بالاوضاع على الحدود «السائبة»، وحوادث التوغل والتهريب وما شابه.
حلفاء سورية وزوّارها ينقلون صورة متفائلة عن «صمود الاسد» و«استرداده زمام المبادرة منذ مدة واجهازه على البؤر الارهابية التي لم يبق منها الا فلول في الرستن تتحصن بالاهالي الامر الذي يحتاج لبعض الوقت للتخلص منها»، وعن معاودته الامساك بالاوضاع تماماً في مهلة لا تتجاوز نهاية السنة الحالية.
والاسد، الذي يحرص على اظهار قدرته على تجاوز المحنة في الداخل ومع الخارج، قال لزواره ان «المرحلة المقبلة قد تشهد اغتيالات وسيارات مفخخة»، لكنه أبدى اطمئناناً الى امكان التحوط من اي مسلسل للاغتيالات والحد من الخسائر «الامر الذي قد لا يكون متاحاً تماماً في مكافحة السيارات المفخخة الاكثر قدرة على احداث الاضرار».
وينقل الذين التقوا الاسد انه غير قلق من الاوضاع الاقتصادية في بلاده التي تتمتع بحدود مشتركة مع اكثر من دولة عربية حيث تشكل متنفساً لـ «مبادلات شعبية» تتيح الحد من الازمة العابرة خصوصاً مع وجود احتياطي كافٍ من القمح والسلع الحيوية الاخرى، اما بالنسبة الى العملات الصعبة فالمسألة غير مقلقة.
والاسد «المرتاح» في عيون زواره يقفل الابواب تماماً على اي مبادرة حتى من «اصدقائنا الروس»، وهو الموقف عينه من المبادرة العربية التي وقفت عند حدود «رفض التدخل في الشأن الداخلي»، كما لا يعترف بوجود معارضة لا في الداخل ولا في الخارج، والحوار الوحيد عبر المحافظات وما سيفضي اليه من مؤتمر مركزي.
ويفاخر الاسد بأن سورية ستعود الدولة العربية الأهمّ، وهو غير آبه بمواقف الدول العربية مما يجري في بلاده، «ففي السعودية موقفان احدهما اكثر عداء، والعلاقة مع بعض الدول لا بأس بها في حين ان دولاً اخرى مشغولة بأوضاعها».
وعندما يقارب الرئيس السوري الموقف التركي، يأخذ على رجب طيب اردوغان «الشخصية الجوفاء» عدم الوفاء بعدما شكلت سورية العلمانية تغطية له في صراعه كتيار اسلامي مع الجيش العلماني في تركيا «التي بالكاد تستطيع مواجهة أزماتها والمصاعب الداخلية التي تواجهها».
وما ينقل عن الاسد حيال الاوضاع في بلاده ومستقبلها يخضع في بيروت لـ «التدقيق» في ضوء مقاربات اخرى «من الشرق والغرب»، فالتقارير الديبلوماسية الغربية و«تحليلات» الموقف الروسي تتقاطعان عند القول ان سورية لن تغادر عين العاصفة في امد قريب لكنهما تفترقان في استشراف طبيعة المرحلة المقبلة و… نهايتها.
في التقارير الغربية التي «تتداولها» بيروت ان واشنطن التي تعمل على دفع المركب السوري نحو التغيير من الخلف حسمت خيارها حيال النظام في سورية حين دعا الرئيس باراك اوباما «نظيره» السوري الى التنحي، وهي صارت مهتمة بمرحلة ما بعد الاسد ونظامه بعدما فقد شرعيته.
وفي تقويم لـ «الحال السورية» الراهنة عكسته مصادر غربية ان نظام الاسد، غير القادر على التقدم الى الامام عبر وأد الاحتجاجات وغير القادر على التراجع في اتجاه الاصلاحات، يصارع عبثاً من اجل البقاء، وهو يفيد في محاولة تطويل عمره من الخيمة الروسية ـ الصينية.
ورغم ان المعارضة السورية المتعاظمة اخذت شرعية شعبية وتحظى بتعاطف دولي، بحسب المصادر عينها، فانها غير قادرة على حسم الصراع نتيجة عنف النظام من جهة ومصاعب انتزاع موقف عربي ودولي حاسم لتدخل من النوع الذي يؤازرها لاحداث عملية التغيير.
وفي تقدير هذه المصادر ان التطور الاهم الذي من شأنه قلب «التوازن السلبي» في سورية الان هو حدوث انشقاق كبير في الجيش، الامر الذي يُفقد النظام اداته الاهم ويفتح الطريق امام تشكيل جيش رديف موالٍ للمعارضة على غرار التجربة التي شهدتها ليبيا.
وبحسب المصادر نفسها، فان التحول الممكن في مجريات الازمة السورية داخلي في الدرجة الاولى لان الولايات المتحدة غير مستعدة للتورط في تدخل عسكري واوروبا الاكثر حماسة تريد قراراً عن مجلس الامن الدولي، وتركيا «المتمهلة» ستكتفي في المرحلة المقبلة بأداء مزدوج يقوم على ضغوط متزايدة على الاسد واحتضان اكثر للمعارضة.
وتعتقد المصادر الغربية ان ايران التي تُكثر من نصائحها للاسد بضرورة وقف العنف وتنفيذ الاصلاحات تضخّ «مقويات» للنظام في سورية الذي يشكل لها «دفرسواراً» لا بديل منه للعبور الى شواطئ المتوسط، لكنها اكثر عقلانية من انجرارها الى حرب بـ «توقيت لا تختاره» لحماية نظام الاسد.
والتقدير الغربي عينه ينسحب على قراءة موقف «حزب الله»، الذي من المستبعد جنوحه في اتجاه اي مغامرة «لن تنقذ الاسد وتضع الحزب في مواجهة شرسة مع المجتمع الدولي في الوقت عينه، الامر الذي يعرض صعود نفوذه الداخلي في لبنان للانتكاسة».
غير ان الانظار تتجه، وفي ضوء «الفيتو التاريخي» الروسي – الصيني في مجلس الأمن، نحو موسكو التي تشكل «الدرع» الواقية لنظام الاسد من الاحتضار السريع تحت وطأة الضغط الداخلي والخارجي وتطوره في اتجاه التجربة الليبية التي اطاحت بالقذافي في نهاية المطاف.
وفي بيروت، المفتوحة النوافذ على الشرق والغرب، تجري تحريات حثيثة لسبر اغوار الموقف الروسي المثير للجدل نتيجة الانطباع عن تحوله غطاء لعمليات القمع ضد الشعب السوري الذي لا يتورع وفي كل يوم جمعة عن حرق العلم الروسي في شوارع المدن «المتمردة».
شخصية لبنانية سياسية فكرية «مخضرمة» التقت اخيراً السفير الروسي في بيروت بناء لطلب من مواقع قيادية في ديبلوماسية الكرملين للوقوف على قراءة «صديق عتيق» لما يجري في سورية و«مناقشته» في خيارات موسكو ودورها.
وهذه الشخصية الآتية من «الحرب الباردة» الى رحاب العصر و«ربيعه العربي» سمعت من السفير الروسي شرحاً لموقف بلاده القائم على «هواجس» اكثر مما هو وليد لعبة المصالح «وسط انطباعات غير مقنعة ومبنية على مغالطات تتعلق بالانتفاضة في سورية وطبيعتها وقواها المحركة».
اما تلك الشخصية فأسمعت السفير الروسي قراءة مغايرة تزاوج بين المبادئ والمصالح لموقف روسي افتراضي يكاد ان يفقد موطئ القدم في المنطقة بعدما تأخر كثيراً في تأييد الانتفاضة الليبية ويمانع في الاعتراف بوجود حركة احتجاج تغييرية في سورية.
وقال الماركسي «الشغوف» بالانتفاضة التاريخية للشعوب العربية لـ «الراي» أنه استنتج من حواره مع الديبلوماسي الروسي ان الكرملين أسير الاعتقاد بان المتشددين الاسلاميين يحركون الشارع العربي، لاسيما في سورية التي قد تتجه نحو تغيير في اتجاه نظام عصبه التيار الاسلامي.
ويخشى الروس – انطلاقاً من هذه «المعطيات» – ان يشكل وصول المتشددين الاسلاميين الى السلطة في غير دولة عربية رافعة لتيارات مماثلة من دول القوقاز، التي تعتبرها موسكو خزاناً لقلق يقضّ مضاجعها منذ تنامي النزعة القومية بعد سقوط الاتحاد السوفياتي.
فات على الروس – بحسب الشخصية اللبنانية – اننا في العالم العربي امام «اسلام جديد» يتماهى مع «الاسلام التركي»، وهو ما لمسه في حوارات اجراها اخيراً مع قيادات بارزة في الحركة الاسلامية كالغنوشي في تونس ومسؤولين في «جماعة الاخوان» في مصر، فالجميع مع دولة مدنية تعددية، الشريعة فيها «احد» مصادر التشريع.
وفي تقدير الشخصية عينها ان روسيا المؤهلة لان تكون دولة عظمى لا تتصرف على هذا الاساس كونها لم تستكمل عملية التغيير في الداخل، ولا هي تطلق دينامية ايجابية في التعاطي مع مشكلات الخارج، ما يحولها احياناً قوة سلبية، على غرار موقفها الراهن من الثورات العربية.
ولعل ما لم يقله السفير الروسي في بيروت على مسامع ضيفه قاله يفغيني بريماكوف عندما تحدث عن الابعاد الداخلية لموقف موسكو من الازمة السورية، مشيراً الى ان فلاديمير بوتين المقبل على انتخابات تعيده الى الرئاسة يفيد من «الحساسية» الشعبية المفرطة في بلاده تجاه الاميركيين.
هذا يعني ان شعور الشارع الروسي بان الاميركيين «يستبيحون» الشرق الاوسط، يجعله خلف بوتين الذي لطالما «اشتغل» على النزعة القومية لدى الروس.
ماذا بعد…
عرض ما تضمنته تلك «المحاضر غير الرسمية» عما يدور في «العقل» السوري والاميركي والروسي يفضي الى القول: ان «التوازن السلبي» في سورية مرشح للاستمرار الى امد غير قصير، ما يرجح حظوظ سيناريوات بدأ التداول بها، ومنها ذاك الذي يعيد الى الذاكرة نموذج كوسوفو الذي من شأنه القفز من فوق مجلس الامن ولعبة ال?يتوات فيه، فالاجماع الدولي «المنقوص» قد يتحول «تحالفاً دولياً – اقليمياً» يأخذ المبادرة لتدخّل ما بعدما بلغت فاتورة الدم في سورية حتى الآن نحو ثلاثة آلاف قتيل.
October 9th, 2011, 10:32 am
Some guy no longer in damascus said:
Irritated,
Do I have to repeat my self?
They’re better than us in nearly every aspect, I didn’t say they’re right. They’re better, not the best since they’re close to us, they can help us out.
Understand me now?
October 9th, 2011, 10:34 am
Tara said:
Ya Mina
True. I never was interested in watching Iranain movies before. But how many times I should tell you it was not you or Jad who got me interested. Nothing you say, Mina, can get me interested. It was someone else to whom I have lots of “affection”. Still, you did not answer my question. Did you like it to or you do not know what I am talking about.
October 9th, 2011, 10:38 am
Revlon said:
أيها الكبار .mp4
October 9th, 2011, 10:50 am
sheila said:
To #247. Mina,
You said: “As usual the expats commenting from their sofa in the US are following Lebanese news more than the Syrian and Iraqi ones”. May I ask: are you in Syria?
You also said: “Here are two good articles from SANA English”. SANA and good article is an oxymoron.
The difference between the pro and the against regime is that the pro regime used to watch Aljazeera and Alarabiya and applaud them for their coverage when it fit their views. Now they are totally against these two because they are not saying what they want to hear. The against regime crowd always knew SANA for what it really is: regime propaganda machine. This did not change and will never change until this regime is gone.
You said: “I still believe that Maher’s people and a bunch of criminals in the mukhabaraat have “nothing to lose” and will fight it to the end instead of ending up in a jail, but that Bashar never gave orders to shoot of the protesters”. I would love to believe this. I never thought he would be capable of something like this, however, Bakkour said that all orders that he received were signed by Bashar. Then again, his signature could have been added without his knowledge or approval.
October 9th, 2011, 10:50 am
Mina said:
Sorry Jad, I didn’t follow that. Could you elaborate?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/iraq-siding-with-iran-sends-lifeline-to-assad/2011/10/06/gIQAFEAIWL_print.html
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-10/08/c_131179951.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-10/08/c_131179951.htm
Tara, I haven’t see the Willow Tree but whenever it will play I’ll go. Just check Paper planes by Farhad Mehranfar and Offside by Jafar Panahi if you have a chance, both great.
October 9th, 2011, 10:53 am
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
In Israel it’s illegal under the law to abuse a child. Not even a parent slapping or any other physical or verbal abuse. Children are taught at kindergarten and at school that if a parent or any adult person abuses them, they are encouraged to dial 100 (Israeli 911), and file a complaint. At first it looked an extreme measure, but today Israeli parents are afraid to slap their kids. Just as it should be.
.
October 9th, 2011, 10:57 am
uzair8 said:
@267 Digging for gold in Basra Said:
‘ https://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=12447#comment-277662 ‘
With all due respect I dont think my attitude is ‘what will be will be’. Also I am not fatalistic.
On the one hand we recognise where we as a nation (muslim ummah) have gone wrong and take responsibility. At the same time we realise that this does not mean we accept dictatorship, occupation etc. We must also rectify ourselves and mend our ways.
The problem is that we complain about our state but we cant be bothered doing anything about it.
In Islam the specific warnings are there but do we take heed? Then we have the nerve to complain.
Sheikh Yaqoubi is a Syrian scholar and supporter of the revolution yet he is also fulfilling his duty and reminding us of the causes and solutions of our problems.
October 9th, 2011, 11:04 am
majedkhaldoun said:
Mina
How young are you? I would guess 23.
October 9th, 2011, 11:05 am
Haytham Khoury said:
رسالة ياحيف من طفلة بريئة إلى بشار الأسد
October 9th, 2011, 11:16 am
jad said:
Mina,
The MB’s used Ghalyoun to be the president of the SNC as a secular and educated face just to get western publicity and when he starts showing his secularism and rejection of violence they flipped against him and they start this massive web based/twitter/FB campaign against him as president of the SNC by showing him weak and not fit to be a president of the council.
(rev is an example of those on SC and here is another example from the FB:
“المعارضة الإسلامية للنظام السوري:
ألحظ عدداً من وسائل الإعلام المحلية والعالمية عندما يقدمون العلماني الفرنسي الإقصائي المتعجرف ” برهان غليون ” للحديث .. يفخمونه .. ويُطرونه بألقاب المدائح والعجائب .. فيبدأون بعدِّ إنجازاته العلمية والأكاديمية .. ومؤلفاته القومية والاجتماعية .. إلى آخر قائمة المدائح والإطراء .. وكأنه فريد عصره .. علماً أن الرجل كل ما يمكن أن تقول في علمه وثقافته أنه أتقن العلمانية الفرنسية إلى درجة التضلع، ليتقيئها في بلاد المسلمين .. مما يُشعرِك أن هناك جهات خفية دولية ومحلية تعمل في الظل والخفاء يريدون أن يفرضوا هذا الرجل فرضاً وبالقوة .. على الثورة السورية .. كقائد وممثل لها .. في صورة رئاسة المجلس الوطني السوري .. الذي يعدونه لرئاسته والتكلم باسمه .. على أنه خيار سوريا الوحيد!
كل هذا المكر والكيد .. لكي يصرفوا الطابع الإسلامي عن الثورة .. وأن يصرفوا الثورة عن توجهها الإسلامي .. [ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ اللّهُ وَاللّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ ]الأنفال:30″
MB’s supporters don’t believe in anything nonviolence, for them the more blood spelled the better, they celebrate every Syrian soul we loos forgetting that we are loosing our best youth without looking for the any other options.
They don’t support the nonviolence movement that many Syrians are actually prefer, Mm. Razan Zaytouneh is a promoter of a nonviolence movement, Haytham Manna is another figure (I posted his interview about his position on SNC), those two with many others are attacked and put aside for no reason but their peaceful ideas, I know for fact that they are pressing and intimidating Razan to take their side of taking arms but she is still resisting, they want to repeat the Lybian scenario, they think that only by force and more killing they succeed.
In Damascus there is a silent nonviolence revolution is going on, it is using reason, creativity and logic instead of rifles, knifes and kidnapping.
It’s called الحراك السلمي السوري, it’s extremely smart and peaceful but because it’s so quite without casualties the media is ignoring it and the violence side is attacking and trying to dismiss and push it aside.
Haytham,
Please elevate your posts to your educational status, you can say the same thing but smarter
Enforced Disappearances Week – أسبوع الاختفاء القسري – 01
http://youtu.be/HVYrUnTwCZA
October 9th, 2011, 11:33 am
jad said:
One more thing Haytham, don’t ever use children or kids in your propaganda, it’s WRONG, keep them out of it.
لا لتجييش الأطفال
I forgot to put the link of the Syrian Nonviolence Movement
http://www.alharak.org
October 9th, 2011, 11:47 am
Mina said:
Jad,
Thanks. This was not in the Haytham Manna interview, which must have taken place before.
Sheila,
I was alluding to the fact that the Lebanese Maronite Bishop had been commented here, but not this one. You can’t simply dismiss Sana. The BBC is just as bad, remember about the killing of Awlaqi “US-Born”.. how to distance from a bad guy? He was simply a US citizen.
Most articles about the Palestinian bid, or about the king of clowns, Tony Blair, as a “Quartet envoy” are worse than any Sana article (I mean, SANA is really trying to make progresses; Syria is already in a phase of transition). I am not in Syria right now but I call people quite often and hopefully I’ll pay them a visit quite soon.
Haytham Khouri,
I am really doubtful about your intentions since last week when you posted a letter supposedly received from someone in Syria with full names and locations.
October 9th, 2011, 11:49 am
Tara said:
Zoo @ 291
I find it pretty difficult to have an opinion in regard to refusing to admit a full-face veiled women to universities.
First of all I do not believe this is a religious ” duty”. You do not have to cover the face in Islam. Second, on personal level, I must admit that I feel a bit uncomfortable seeing a women under complete black niqab. I think women who were the niqab are either forced by the tradition or if not forced, they are displaying an extreme form of self expression. Nevertheless, on the other hand, people should be free to express themselves the way they see fit and personal preference of others should not be imposed on them to deny them their rights.
October 9th, 2011, 11:50 am
Muhammad said:
On a lighter note yesterday Syrian TV broadcast this little gem of an interview:
http://www.sana.sy/ara/336/2011/10/09/374319.htm
So essentially, this ultra-conservative, extremist, salafist, blood thirsty, and child eating terrorist provide “sexual services” for his even more conservative and extremist shiekh. Add to the irony that his surname is “Saleh” which means good and is used to refer to him. He is called “The good terrorist” throughout the article.
When will you menhebaks learn to lie properly ? Not much time left for the fall of the regime … Can you not make even one believable lie ?
October 9th, 2011, 11:50 am
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Ya Tribal,
You whine about the Syrian MB. What about those long years that Syria hosted, supported and armed the Palestinian MB? If it’s good for the Palestinians, why is it not good for Syrians?
I would call it a poetic justice.
.
October 9th, 2011, 11:55 am
irritated said:
Some guy Not In Damascus
Obviously you have only visited briefly Istanbul.
Go to the small non-touristic cities and villages then report if they are better than us. I don’t think they are. The villages and small towns are very backward compared to Syria’s.
Until 1983, the country was a military dictatorship. The military kept control of the country after it became a ‘democracy’ to ‘protect’ secularism. It is only in 2003 that the AKP was able to neutralize the military’s interference in the country political life.
Therefore it took 20 years of internal political struggle from the official announcement of a democracy in Turkey (in 1983) to enter a more harmonious phase of economically and politically development.
It is to early to say if the can sustain their growth that has becoming increasingly dependent on their exports and on their controversial and shifting political alliances.
A good example to follow for Syria? I am not so sure.
October 9th, 2011, 11:56 am
zoo said:
Tara #306
I have no opinion either, but in Tunis some seem to have strong ones, that’s the problem.
October 9th, 2011, 11:59 am
Mina said:
Tara
It’s a little more than that. Today about 500 persons in Tunis have tried to burn the TV station which has broadcasted yesterday PERSEPOLIS, a cartoon by the Iranian-French director Marjan Satrapi, and a debate on religious fundamentalism.
October 9th, 2011, 12:12 pm
Tara said:
Amir
I disagree with your opinion in regard to mehshi and politics or any other profession for that matter. You made it sound that they are two contradictory things. They are not. You can do both. Although, there are literally less than 2 percent girls in my specific field of work in the US, as it is perceived to be “difficult and unusual for women”‘ I never took as much pride in my professional success as I take in my ” domestic” skills raising children to their full moral and intellectual potentials. This is what in my opinion distinguish Syrian women. Family comes first.
October 9th, 2011, 12:17 pm
jna said:
reply: http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/15245946
October 9th, 2011, 12:22 pm
zoo said:
Tunisia Salafists ‘attack private TV station’
Around 300 Tunisian Salafists on Sunday attacked the headquarters of a private TV station that aired a French-Iranian film and organised a debate on religious extremism, the channel said.
{…}
http://news.yahoo.com/tunisia-salafists-attack-private-tv-station-134900972.html
Note: The film is “Persepolis” a french-iranian film, by Marianne Satrapi, an iranian exiled cartoonist living in Paris. The film in form of a cartoon, is critical about radical Islam in general and very critical of the excesses of the Islamic revolution in Iran.
October 9th, 2011, 12:25 pm
Tara said:
Mina
Hopefully, Syria after Bashar will be a model for all the middle east in regard to true secularism and separation of religion and state, however in a culturally sensitive environment. I am very much against fundamentalism of any sort. People who use violent measures in enforcing their fundamental views in a law-abiding country should be brought to justice.
October 9th, 2011, 12:27 pm
OFF THE WALL said:
Until 1983, the country was a military dictatorship.
That means they are at least 30 years a head of Syria in sociopolitical development, among other things.
October 9th, 2011, 12:32 pm
Ghufran said:
Jad, I and few others were attacked because we said that the islamists are simply putting up a show to look democratic and civilized by allowing seculars to be leaders on paper only to be sidelined and even removed,politically or physically,later.the same can happen inside Syria.
If you allow militant islamists in they will gradually kick everybody else out,they have a lot in common with the ruling regime in Syria. Watch out guys and choose friends carefully,religion and politics produce a toxic hazard.
October 9th, 2011, 12:34 pm
annie said:
299. Amir in Tel Avivsaid:
In Israel it’s illegal under the law to abuse a child. Not even a parent slapping or any other physical or verbal abuse. Children are taught at kindergarten and at school that if a parent or any adult person abuses them, they are encouraged to dial 100 (Israeli 911), and file a complaint. At first it looked an extreme measure, but today Israeli parents are afraid to slap their kids. Just as it should be.
Beautiful ! A pity it only applies to Jewish citizens
http://youtu.be/QRHqU8H1CVk
October 9th, 2011, 12:49 pm
ann said:
Syria warns countries not to recognize opposition – 1 hr 16 mins ago
http://news.yahoo.com/syria-warns-countries-not-recognize-opposition-124808666.html
BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s foreign minister warned the international community Sunday not to recognize a new umbrella council formed by the opposition, threatening “tough measures” against any country that does so.
Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem did not specify what measures Damascus might take. But he went on to say that countries that do not protect Syrian missions could find their own embassies treated in the same way.
“We will take tough measures against any country that recognizes this illegitimate council,” al-Moallem said without elaborating on what type of reaction it might bring.
The Syrian National Council, announced last week in Turkey, is a broad-based group which includes most major opposition factions. No country or international body has recognized it so far as a legal representative of the Syrian people.
Bourhan Ghalioun, the opposition council’s most prominent official, said he expects the organization will be recognized “in the coming few weeks.” Al-Moallem’s comments came as the council was scheduled to hold two meetings Sunday, one in Cairo and another in Stockholm.
Damascus appears concerned that if the Syrian National Council is recognized by the international community, it could play the same role as the National Transitional Council in Libya that ultimately overthrew longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi.
Syria’s top diplomat was speaking during a joint news conference with a delegation from the left-leaning ALBA bloc of mostly Latin American countries, which includes Cuba, Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia. The ALBA officials were visiting Damascus to express solidarity with Syria and met Sunday with President Bashar Assad.
State-run news agency SANA quoted Assad as telling the delegation that Syria aims to make political reforms then end armed presence. But past promises of sweeping reforms have not been carried through and the opposition says they will accept nothing short of his departure.
“The foreign attack on Syria escalated after the situation started to improve because what they want is not reforms but for Syria to pay a price for its stances against foreign schemes in the region,” SANA quoted Assad as saying.
Assad was apparently referring to sanctions imposed by the U.S. and several European countries on his regime because of the crackdown. Assad insists the unrest is being driven by terrorists and Islamic extremists acting out a foreign conspiracy to fracture Syria.
Assad is facing the most serious challenge to his authority since he took power 11 years ago. The uprising against his regime began in mid-March amid a wave of anti-government protests in the Arab world that has so far toppled autocrats in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Assad has reacted with deadly force that the U.N. estimates has left some 2,900 people dead.
Al-Moallem criticized European countries where Syrian missions have recently been stormed by protesters, implying that Damascus might allow foreign delegations to be attacked in turn.
“If they don’t provide security to our missions, we will treat them the same way,” he said.
A group of protesters broke into the Syrian embassy in Berlin and two other Syrian diplomatic missions in Germany and Switzerland late Saturday and early Sunday in what appeared to protests against the killing of a Kurdish opposition leader.
He also criticized the U.S. and the French ambassador to Syria, who have condemned the regime’s crackdown and visited tense areas outside Damascus angering authorities.
“We don’t interfere in their business the way some of them do in Damascus,” he said.
Last month, U.S. ambassador Robert Ford and several colleagues from the embassy were pelted with tomatoes and eggs as they visited an opposition figure. U.S. officials said the assault was part of a campaign to intimidate diplomats investigating Assad’s repression of pro-reform demonstrators.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of Kurdish mourners gathered in a northeastern city for the funeral of five people killed by security forces, a rights activist in the area said.
Mustafa Osso added that more than a 100 security agents in uniform have deployed in the main square of Qamishli ahead of the funeral, as unrest builds in the majority-Kurdish region.
Amateur videos posted online by activists showed scores of people marching in streets said to be in Qamishli and chanting anti-Assad slogans.
“The people want to execute the president,” chanted the crowd that was carrying a black banner and Kurdish white, green, red and yellow flags. “Assad is the enemy of God.”
Sunday’s procession came a day after more than 50,000 mourners marched through Qamishli to mourn prominent opposition figure Mashaal Tammo. Security forces fired into the crowds, killing five people.
Tammo was assassinated Friday.
The turnout Saturday was by far the largest in the Kurdish northeast since the start of the uprising against President Bashar Assad’s autocratic regime seven months ago.
Al-Moallem described Tammo as a “martyr” and blamed a terrorist group for his death because the Kurdish leader stood against any foreign intervention in Syria.
October 9th, 2011, 1:27 pm
ghufran said:
people who want Syria to follow the Turkish model needs to remember that the army was in charge for a long period of time and remained very influential in Turkey’s politics until lately. A similar path means that Syria can embrace political and democratic changes without losing law and order. The key word here is change without blood shed and chaos. Some people just do not get it.
October 9th, 2011, 1:35 pm
OFF THE WALL said:
Martyr Meshaal Temmo, who was murdered by the regime thugs on Intervention. Translated from elaph. The interview was published on September 3rd, 2011.
Arabic Version of the full interview
English translation
Q. Are you with or against outside interference? What is the best form of intervention and support?
Answer:
Generalization is also rejected here, because it aims to blind us to the fact of global interdependence. On the one hand, we now say that the world is now a small global village, in the sense of emphasizing the depth and size of human interdependence, how can then one think of this interdependence as an outside intervention?
It may be that a direct military intervention is unacceptable, but there are many political, economic, and security forms that can be deployed to support the Syrian Revolution to protect civilians because the issue of protecting civilians from genocide is not a domestic issue but an international matter, a matter of Chapter VII of the Charter the Security Council. One must not confuse things, there have been interventions in Bosnia and Kosovo, Libya, Rwanda and in many other places of tension, and in each case the intervention was done differently. The issue is linked to the most appropriate manner that is compatible with international law, with which to protect civilians from the oppression of the Syrian security and military authoritarianism.
October 9th, 2011, 1:38 pm
Mango said:
http://arabic.rt.com/news_all_news/news/568700/
قال نيقولاي سوركوف الخبير في شؤون الشرق الأوسط في معهد موسكو للعلاقات الدولية إن موسكو قادرة وجاهزة للقيام بدور الوسيط خصوصا أن لديها اتصالات مع القيادة السورية وممثلي المعارضة، لكن هناك أمر آخر يتعلق بمدى استجابة النظام السوري لهذه المفاوضات.
واستبعد الخبير الروسي أن تكون الوساطة الروسية تدخلا في شؤون سورية الداخلية، مشيرا إلى أن موسكو أكدت مرارا رفضها لأي تدخل خارجي في شؤون سورية.
http://arabic.rt.com/main_news/news/568655/
دبلوماسي روسي: موسكو قد تكون ساحة للحوار بين دمشق والمعارضة السورية
قال ميخائيل بوغدانوف نائب وزير الخارجية الروسي انه لا يستبعد ان تقترح القيادة الروسية على السلطات السورية والمعارضة عقد لقاء تمهيدي بينهما في موسكو من اجل فتح الحوار.
وقال بوغدانوف في مقابلة أدلى بها لوكالة “نوفوستي” الروسية للأنباء نشرت يوم الاحد 9 أكتوبر/تشرين الأول ان المسؤولين الروس قد يتقدموا بمثل هذا الاقتراح خلال استقبالهم لوفد من المعارضة الداخلية السورية من المقرر أي يصل الى روسيا يوم الاثنين.
وقال: “نحن لم نتقدم بهذا الاقتراح رسميا حتى الآن، لكني لا أستبعد هذا الامر. لماذا لا؟ نظن انها ستكون خطوة بناءة”.
وأوضح الدبلوماسي الروسي الذي التقى بمراسلة الوكالة أثناء مشاركته في أعمال الدورة التاسعة للمنتدى الاجتماعي العالمي “حوار الحضارات” في جزيرة رودس اليونانية، ان الرسالة الرئيسية التي تبعث بها موسكو لجميع الأطراف في سورية هي ان القضايا التي تواجهها البلاد حاليا، تراكمت على مدى سنوات طويلة، ولذلك لا يمكن حلها بدفعة واحدة، خاصة إذا تم اللجوء الى المواجهة. ولذلك أشار بوغدانوف الى ان الطريق الوحيد لحل الأزمة هو الحوار السياسي الواسع بمشاركة جميع القوى البناءة في البلاد من السلطات والمعارضة.
وتابع قائلا ان الحوار بين السلطات والقوى السياسية المحلية يجري داخل سورية على مستوى المحافظات وليس على مستوى الدولة بأكملها، لان قيادات هذه أو غيرها من الأحزاب المعارضة تخشي من الملاحقة والاعتقالات، فهناك هناك نقص في الثقة بالنظام. وفي هذه الظروف،عندما لا تستطيع قيادات هذه الأحزاب ان تصل الى دمشق للمشاركة في المفاوضات، قال بوغدانوف ان من الممكن التفكير في إجراء لقاءات تمهيدية في الخارج. وتابع قائلا: “أظن، إذا أخذنا بعين الاعتبار علاقاتنا مع كلا من الشعب السوري والسلطات السورية فمن الممكن ان تكون موسكو ساحة للقاءات”.
روسيا تدعو الأطراف السورية للتخلي عن جميع أشكال العنف
شدد بوغدانوف على ان روسيا تدعو الأطراف السورية للتخلي عن جميع أشكال العنف بعض النظر عن الجهة التي تقوم بها والأسباب التي تبررها بها.
وقال: “مطالب السكان شرعية، طبعا. ونحن ننطلق من ان القيادة السورية والرئيس بشار الأسد يفهمان هذا”، ولذلك أعلنت القيادة السورية برنامج إصلاحات عميقة وجدية، كما تبنت إصدار قوانين جديدة تهدف الى دمقرطة الحياة السياسية بأكملها في البلاد.
وأعاد بوغدانوف الى الأذهان التصريح الأخير للرئيس الروسي دميتري مدفيديف بشأن سورية، مؤكدا ان الاصلاحات ونتائجها وحدها من شأنها أن تؤكد ان القيادة السورية كفؤة حقا وتأخذ على عاتقها المسؤولية الكاملة عن أقوالها امام شعبها.
وقال نائب وزير الخارجية الروسي ان الحديث يدور في الوقت الراهن عن زيارة وفدين من المعارضة الداخلية والخارجية الى موسكو، لكنه لم يستبعد ان تستقبل موسكو قريبا وفودا أخرى.
وأعاد الى الأذهان ان المسؤولين الروس ينتظرون زيارة وفد المعارضة الداخلية السورية يومي 10 و11 أكتوبر/تشرين الأول، موضحا ان الوفد سيضم 5 أو 6 أشخاص يمثلون أحزابا معارضة مختلفة داخل سورية. وأضاف ان زيارتهم تنظمها جمعية التضامن والتعاون بين شعوب آسيا وأفريقيا التي يترأسها ميخائيل مارغيلوف. وتوقع بوغدانوف ان يعقد مارغيلوف الذي يترأس أيضا لجنة العلاقات الخارجية في مجلس الاتحاد الروسي (مجلس الشيوخ) لقاء مع الوفد، كما لم يستبعد تنظيم لقاء مع نواب روس. وقال ان وزارة الخارجية الروسية ستستقبل الوفد 11 اكتوبر/تشرين الأول.
وقال ان الوفد الأول سيضم عددا من السياسيين البارزين بينهم علي حيدر رئيس الحزب السوري القومي الاجتماعي وقدري جميل ممثل الجبهة الشعبية للتغيير والتحرير في سورية الذي يقوم بتنظيم هذه الزيارة.
وفيما يخص الوفد الثاني الذي سيمثل المعارضة الخارجية، قال بوغدانوف ان وزارة الخارجية الروسية تأمل في أن يصل الوفد الى موسكو بعد يوم 20 أكتوبر/تشرين الثاني وقبل نهاية الشهر الجاري. وتابع قوله ان الخارجية الروسية تنتظر الآن من المعارضة إرسال القائمة النهائية لأعضاء الوفد، كي تساعدهم في الحصول على تأشيرات الدخول. وردا على سؤال حول من سيترأس الوفد الثاني، قال الدبلوماسي الروسي ان الجانب السوري سيقرر هذا المسألة.
كما كرر بوغدانوف انه يعتبر الدعوات في وسائل الإعلام الى الإعلان عن عدم شرعية الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد، تمثل موقفا هداما وخرقا سافرا لمبدأ عدم التدخل في شوؤن الدول. وأشار الى ان هذه الدعوات لا يمكن أن تأتي بشيء إيجابي بالنسبة لمسألة إجراء الإصلاحات أو بدء حوار ذي مردود وناتج بين السلطات والمعارضة.
المصدر: وكالة “نوفوستي” الروسية للأنباء
October 9th, 2011, 1:42 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
Ghufran, I for one find your posts highly provocative. To hell with your “peaceful change withour bloodshed”. Tell that to the security bosses whop run the regime. We have had eniugh bloo shed of our own, and now we are out for their blood. People like you should just shut up, otherwise when the regime will depart – as it wil sooner or later – ppl like you will find themselves in a very uncomfortable position indeed, with people like me in charge of the street. I feel terrible speaking so rudely to you Ghufran, you being elder to me, but I just can’t help it. Why don’t you ask your relatives in the Army and security forces to stop the bloodshed ?
October 9th, 2011, 1:43 pm
Mango said:
مظاهرات الغضب الشعبي العارم في امريكا تتعاظم 08/10/2011 4:29 PM
الآلاف من الغاضبين احتلو وول ستريت في نيويورك للتعبير عن غضبهم من النظام المالي الامريكي ,فيما اعتقلت الشرطة اكثر من 200 متظاهرا من حركة “اكوباي ذا وول ستريت الاحتجاجية “.
المسؤلون في مدينة نيويورك اكدوا ان المحتجين في وول ستريت يضرون بالسياحة والإقتصاد في الولاية للأسبوع الثالث وذلك بسبب مخيماتهم في حديقة لور مانهاتن.
مارغو ليفيريت، من المنظمين في حركة اكوبي وول ستريت تقول :”“إن العالم في حالة من الفوضى الرهيبة، ولا أحد يعرف بالضبط ما الذي يمكن عمله الان ولكنني مقتنعه ان المحتجين محقين بمطالبهم “.
المظاهرات التي ضمت اتحاد عمال النقل،والمدرسين والموظفيين امتدت إلى مدن أخرى كبيرة في الولايات المتحدة مثل لوس آنجلس وبوسطن وفيلادليفيا وشيكاغو.
تقول احدى المشاركات في المظاهرة :“وضعنا المعيشي سيء فلا ناكل بشكل جيد ولا توجد لدينا الرفاهية التي تعيش بها الاخرين نحن لسا اغبياء ولا نعيش في عالم اخر لذلك يجب القيام بذلك “.
يذكر ان تظاهرات “الغاضبين” في وول ستريت بدأت في 17 /أيلول الماضي ضد “جشع” النظام المالي ومستمرة لليوم وتتعاظم يوماً بعد يوم
فضائح صفقات السلاح والرشاوي البريطانية السعودية تملئ الصحف 09/10/2011 4:39 PM
تناولت جميع الصحف البريطانية وعلى صدر صفحاتها فضيحة وزير الدفاع البريطاني ليام فوكس وصديق له اصطحبه في زيارات رسمية الى الخارج وحضوره اجتماعات رسمية للوزير مع مسؤولين اجانب رغم عدم توليه اي منصب رسمي او وظيفة.
وارغمت هذه الفضيحة رئيس الوزراء البريطاني ديفيد كاميرون على الطلب من وزارة الدفاع على تقديم تقرير عن عمل ادام ريتي، صديق فوكس الذي كان يقدم نفسه خلال هذه اللقاءات باعتباره مستشارا لفوكس.
ومن بين القضايا الشرق الاوسطية الملفتة للاهتمام في الصحف البريطانية الاحد تحقيق موسع في الصنداي تايمز عن فضيحة رشاوي جديدة محورها المملكة العربية السعودية وشركة بريطانية وتم في اطارها دفع ملايين الجنيهات الاسترالية لافراد من الاسرة المالكة السعودية لتمرير عقد بقيمة ملياري جنيه ( اكثر من ثلاثة مليارات دولار)
فعلى صفحة الشؤون الخارجية نطالع تقريرا عن “رشاوى” التي تم دفعها لجهات سعودية والازمة التي تواجهها الحكومة البريطانية لان عليها اتخاذ قرار قريبا حول هذا الموضوع وماذا اذا كانت تريد فتح تحقيق رسمي في هذه الفضيحة في اعقاب تحقيق قام به مكتب الجرائم المالية الكبرى.
وكان المكتب قد قدم للمدعي العام البريطاني تفاصيل عن تحويل مبالغ بملايين الجنيهات الاسترالينية الى حساب في سويسرا في اطار عقد بين السعودية ووزارة الدفاع البريطانية التي الزمت العقد لاحدى الشركات التابعة لمجموعة EADS التي تنتج طائرات الايرباص لتحديث لنظام الاتصالات للحرس الوطني السعودي واتصالات القصور الملكية في السعودية.
وتقول الصحيفة ان موظفين اثنين في الشركة لفتا انظار الادارة الى ان الدفعات التي تمت مابين عامي 2007 و2010 مخالفة للقانون لكن موظفعا ثالثا طلب منهما التزام الصمت لكي لا تخسر الشركة امكانية الفوز بمناقصة لتقديم 179 طائرة امداد الطائرات المقاتلة في الجو بالوقود لصالح وزارة الدفاع الامريكية البنتاجون.
ونقلت الصحيفة عن مسؤول كبير في وزارة الخزانة البريطانية ان بعض الدفعات انتهت في حسابات في سويسرا يمتلكها عضو مرموق في الاسرة المالكة السعودية والتحقيق في هذه القضية حساس جدا من الناحية السياسية.
October 9th, 2011, 1:53 pm
jad said:
Watch out Ghufran, you wrote the ‘N’ (Nonviolence resistance) word, you are in deep trouble now 😉
October 9th, 2011, 2:09 pm
Husam said:
Irritated said:
“That is a very personal point of view that I certainly not share.
For a city that is a living historical museum, I don’t think it is anything of a “remarkable” achievement to make it look NYC, L.A or the monstruous Dubai.”</i.
Every comment of yours is irritating! How to put it to you? Obviously you haven't been to Istanbul, and you missed my point. I said in the my last comment [10 years] has nothing to do with history. It is like big cities in a way of 'live, and let live'. But of course that means nothing to you and your clan. The amount of projects: water, transportation, education and infrastructure in the past 10 years is remarkable. Are you bothered because it is Sunni inspired?
Very irritated and irritating you are.
October 9th, 2011, 2:13 pm
annie said:
320. ghufran said:
Syria can embrace political and democratic changes without losing law and order. The key word here is change without blood shed and chaos. Some people just do not get it.
Can you please tell this to the powers that be ?
October 9th, 2011, 2:22 pm
Husam said:
Mina Said:
Do you think the Istanbul miracle would have been possible without hundred thousands of Turks working mainly in Germany, Switzerland, France, and having sent a lot of money home in the last 30 years, plus generations in and out Turkey now speaking fluent German and English?
Mina, it isn’t a miracle, I don’t believe in miracles. It was hard work, self determination, and communal effort by all. Compare that to the self serving Arab who know-it-all-better-than-you. People in the Arab world are measured by how much money they have (stolen, in most cases). Just like irritated, you have obviously not been to Turkey as I couldn’t find any random person who spoke English (except in the Hotel and the Tour Guide), so you are clearly out to lunch. For those of you who fear Islam, “Turkish Gulen Movement” was instrumental in what we see in Turkey nowadays. Google it.
SGNLD: You are absolutely right, the Turks can teach us like little children.
Aboud: Welcome back dude!
October 9th, 2011, 2:26 pm
jna said:
321. OFF THE WALLsaid:
Martyr Meshaal Temmo, who was murdered by the regime thugs on Intervention. Translated from elaph. The interview was published on September 3rd, 2011.
Thanks for the translation of Tammo’s interview. Still without any concrete evidence, I now think it most likely that he was killed by pro-regime gunmen of some sort.
October 9th, 2011, 2:33 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
183. TARA said:
“Zoo
Do you think the Egyptian will receive the SNC well? Are the going to be bold enough to be the first to recognize it and give it legitimacy?”
Unfortunately , Tara, I don’t think so. Firstly a wide cross-section of the Egyptian opposition, especially the “moderate islamists” a.k.a Muslim Brotherhood are in Iran’s back-pocket. Then again Iran is quite popular among the dull witted Egyptian masses. The Govt. is under a lot of pressure to cosy up to Iran. Now you know what Iran;s stance on Syria is.
I think international recognition to the SNC, if at all, will come from Libya.
October 9th, 2011, 2:34 pm
sheila said:
To Ya Mara Ghalba,
I am still waiting for your answer. How do you constitutionally topple a dictator?
October 9th, 2011, 2:35 pm
Shami said:
Ghufran ,the problem is not the army as whole but the assadian and makhloufian officers who control everything in the army,i dont see those in place in post Assad-Makhlouf-Shaleesh-Addunia-AlBaath-Tishrine-Assad statues Syria.
Those who are in control of the security apparatuses and the army are one block and they will end together.
In Turkey(Egypt,Tunisia) the army is genuinely patriotic and not hidjacked by a sectarian minority which is the case in today Syria.
October 9th, 2011, 2:35 pm
Mina said:
Husam
I have been to Istanbul. It’s big city so don’t worry if you can’t find anyone who speak English so easily. People who do need to have 2 jobs to make a living and they have to stay a minimum of 2 hours in their car or 3 hours in a bus just to cross from the Asian to the European side and back.
But even more, I have been to Berlin, where you can meet a lot of young folks from Anatolia who speak perfect German and English, simply because their relatives were visiting them a lot even before they ever came to Germany for studies.
Water !! To mention in a Syrian forum that the water projects were “Sunni inspired” (whatever you put in this poetic nonsensical phrase) is pure cynism.
October 9th, 2011, 2:37 pm
Husam said:
Irritated said:
Go to the small non-touristic cities and villages then report if they are better than us. I don’t think they are. The villages and small towns are very backward compared to Syria’s
Total lie! You are spreading false information. The projects in small non-touristic villages is exactly where I have friends. Erdogan’s and his team stopped the influx into larger cities by supporting farming in finance, innovation and infrastructure. Even in villages of of 100k or less they got some kind of major production and industry (and remember no-oil). Comparing villages in Turkey to villages in Syria is like comparing an olympian with a slumper-couch-potato.
So answer the Q: are you irritated from Sunnis succeeding!?
October 9th, 2011, 2:41 pm
Tara said:
Khaled
Why is Iran popular among Egyptian masses?
As a side note, can’t wait till they capture Quaddafi. It will sure send a chill into Bashar’s blood vessels.
October 9th, 2011, 2:44 pm
Husam said:
Mina:
I have been to Istanbul. It’s big city so don’t worry if you can’t find anyone who speak English so easily. People who do need to have 2 jobs to make a living and they have to stay a minimum of 2 hours in their car or 3 hours in a bus just to cross from the Asian to the European side and back..
There is no perfect utopian city. The traffic issue is been addressed by several projects including linking Asia and European side by the Turks own underwater chunnel launching Q4 2012.
Mina, my only guess is you are clearly jealous of the Turks’ recent success. You are trying to belittle them, and it is not working. It is in your menhebak veins, you can’t help it when you see others (sunnis especially) succeed. Nice try!
October 9th, 2011, 2:49 pm
sheila said:
Dear #280. Husam,
I do not know where you are from, but I am from Aleppo and have seen this gap between Turkey and Syria first hand. What would really blow your mind is that up to the 80s the Turks used to come to Aleppo and buy everything that we Syrians considered trash and would not touch with a 5 foot pole. Look where they are and where we are now. This is exactly what kills me when people talk about progress in Syria in the last 11 years of Bashar. They know squat about the true meaning of progress.
October 9th, 2011, 2:51 pm
Shami said:
Mina,
If you fear anything related to the mainstrean islamic civilization ,the AKP and even the democracies in Europe and the west.
What’s your alternative solution for the arab-muslim world?
It seems that you are only here to vomit your hatred left and right without providing a solution.
October 9th, 2011, 2:54 pm
Husam said:
Dear Sheila:
…the 80s the Turks used to come to Aleppo and buy everything that we Syrians considered trash and would not touch with a 5 foot pole.
I do believe you. However, perhaps it was traded and not for local consumption and was shipped to soviet mainland (Azer, Tajk, Turkminstan, etc…the turks speak those languages and trade to those countries till today.)
In any case, the growth in the past 10-20 years is truly phenomenal. I will be investing in Turkey’s real estate sector.
October 9th, 2011, 3:01 pm
Mina said:
Ha ha, to be called names as soon as you touch the new capital of the MB utopian empire!
My best Turkish friends are all totally enamoured with Iran and shiism. So sorry for your “Sunni-villages” and I don’t know what (ahh yes, the same as in Egypt… half naked elderly european single women looking for a cheap local date?). Again, none of you answer: where the money came from to Turkey? from the expats in Germany.
My point is, today there is an election in Cameroon. Everybody expects the president, who has been holding to his seat for 29 years to win another time. The guy spends half the year in Swiss palaces. Do you US expats advise to bomb the country?
October 9th, 2011, 3:06 pm
sheila said:
To #287. Irritated,
I find it a little irritating that in a world of over 6 billion people, you can not deem anyone good enough or trustworthy enough to act as an independent observer. It is the same line of thought that can not find anyone else that can rule Syria except for Bashar.
October 9th, 2011, 3:09 pm
Husam said:
Mina Said:
…and I don’t know what (ahh yes, the same as in Egypt… half naked elderly european single women looking for a cheap local date?).
Errr..can someone explain this idiocity to me, couldn’t figure it out.
October 9th, 2011, 3:11 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
335. TARA said:
“Khaled
Why is Iran popular among Egyptian masses?
As a side note, can’t wait till they capture Quaddafi. It will sure send a chill into Bashar’s blood vessels.”
Pretty much for the same reason that Saddam is popular among many Palestinians. Egyptians hated Mubarak, Mubarak was a friend of Israel, Iran was an enemy of Israel and hence an enemy of Mubarak. Do you get it ?
Btw I thionk it will be quite a while till they capture Gaddafi, but I think sending a chill down the blood vessels of Syrians ecurity boses is more important at this moment.
October 9th, 2011, 3:22 pm
Tara said:
Mina, you were asked by Shami to provide your vision/ solution for Syria since you reject western style democracy, as well as a turkish style secularism.
The first statement of your answer was “my best Turkish friends are all enamored with Shiism and Iran”. Do you want us to have a Shiism theocracy in Syria similar to Iran? Are you for real?
October 9th, 2011, 3:28 pm
OFF THE WALL said:
HUSAM
……..perhaps it was traded and not for local consumption and was shipped to soviet mainland (Azer, Tajk, Turkminstan, etc…the turks speak those languages and trade to those countries till today.)
Excellent deduction from someone who did not live in the area. I happen to know through some friends that this is largely correct. Some was taken to be sold in rural Turkey and the rest was re-exported to some neighboring republics. The Turks are no less tradesmen than Arabs.
On the other hand, you are probably ignoring the Aleviz in Turkey along with other minorities. They are also full participants in Turkish society and politics. Erdoghan built on his predecessor. It is not only his work. It was Bülent Ecevit, a democrat secularist who first challenged the Turkish people to rise to the global community and set forth the foundation for Erdoghan and his team to complete and enhance the work. My Turkish friends, who are naturally secular are very impressed with Erdoghan, but they also emphasize Ecevit’s role in the transformation.
October 9th, 2011, 3:35 pm
Tara said:
Aljazeera reporting clashes between the Copts and the Egyptian police in Cairo. 22 dead and 100 injured.
October 9th, 2011, 3:39 pm
Ya Mara Ghalba said:
SANA reported Assad saying today 9 Oct 2011 “The reform process will be proceeding and it is being carried out based on a sovereign decision independent of any foreign dictates.” We don’t need to hear that Syria doesn’t take dictation from foreigners. What we need to hear is the status of the revision to the Constitution.
October 9th, 2011, 3:39 pm
syria no kandahar said:
welcome to arab spring
welcome to freedom and democracy
where is Sarkozy,Ashton,AirDogan?
أكد التلفزيون المصري ارتفاع عدد ضحايا الاشتباكات بين الأقباط وقوات الأمن والشرطة في منطقة ماسبيرو بوسط القاهرة إلى 17 قتيلاً، فيما قالت وكالة فرانس برس إن القتلى عددهم 14.
ونقل التلفزيون عن هشام شيحة وكيل وزارة الصحة أن عدد المصابين من الطرفين ارتفعت إلى أكثر من 140 شخصا. ودخلت قوات الشرطة العسكرية إلى ميدان التحرير لفض المعتصمين الذين حاولوا إقامة متاريس أمام مداخله.
ووقعت الاشتباكات عندما تصدت قوات الأمن لعدة مئات من المحتجين الأقباط لدى تقدمهم صوب مبنى الإذاعة والتلفزيون في وسط القاهرة، محاولين الاعتصام أمامه على ما يبدو.
وقال أحد شهود العيان إن قوات الشرطة العسكرية أطلقت أعيرة نارية في الهواء لتفريق المحتجين، وإن بعضهم ردوا عليها بالرشق بالحجارة.
وأسفرت الاشتباكات عن وقوع عدد من الإصابات، لم يتسن حصرها حتى الآن، وقابل أفراد الشرطة العسكرية رشق الأقباط لهم بالحجارة بإطلاق عدد من الأعيرة النارية فى الهواء دون جدوى.
وكان بعض المتظاهرين مسلحين بأسلحة آلية استولوا عليها من مركبات تابعة للجيش بعد إحراقها، وكذلك قاموا بتدمير ممتلكات خاصة وعامة.
وألقى متظاهرون قنابل مولوتوف على مركبات تابعة للجيش وسمعت طلقات رصاص. وشوهد أهالي قادمون من منطقة السبتية لمساندة الجيش.
وقال الصحفي صمويل العشاي، الذي شارك في التظاهرة، لـ”العربية.نت” إن فلول وبلطجية الحزب الوطني المنحل هي التي أطلقت الرصاص الحي لمنع المتظاهرين الأقباط من التعبير عن غضبهم.
وقال صمويل العشاي “إن المظاهرات بدأت سلمية في تمام الساعة الخامسة مساء بتوقيت القاهرة، وبدأناها بمسيرة جابت شارعي الجلاء وبولاق أبو العلا الموازيين لساحة ماسبيرو، وانضم إلينا عشرات الآلاف بينهم مسلمون ومسيحيون، ولكن عندما بدأنا التجمع أمام ساحة ماسبيرو فوجئنا بالشرطة العسكرية تطلق النار في الهواء وتطاردنا بالمدرعات العسكرية حتى ميدان عبدالمنعم رياض، والآن نحن أما عملية كر وفر بين جنود شرطة الأمن المركزي ومدرعات الجيش”.
وقال عماد جاد، الخبير بمركز الأهرام للدراسات السياسية والاستراتيجية، إنه شاهد “مدرعات للجيش تدهس المتظاهرين، وهذه جريمة حرب مسؤول عنها المشير طنطاوي، ومجموعة المجلس العسكري، وهذه جريمة في حق الإنسانية يجب أن يحاكم المسؤولين عنها، ويجب أن يحاسب من أصدر الأوامر”.
وأضاف في مداخلة هاتفية على قناة النيل للأخبار: “هؤلاء متظاهرون سلميون، ولم يكن أحد من المتظاهرين يحمل سلاحاً، لكن الجيش هو من صعّد الأمر، والمشير يجب أن يخرج للناس الآن ويتحدث، فهذه مقدمة لحرب أهلية”.
وهتف المتظاهرون: “مسلم مسيحي إيد واحدة”، “يسقط يسقط حكم العسكر”، و”الشعب يريد إسقاط المشير”.
مظاهرات في الأقصر وأسيوط والإسكندريةوأغلق الأقباط طريق محافظة الأقصر الرئيس، لكنهم فتحوا الطريق بعد تدخل المحافظ وإقناعهم بأنه سيقوم بتوصيل طلباتهم للجهات المسؤولة في القاهرة، كما نظمت تظاهرات أمام مقر الحزب الوطني المنحل في مدينة أسيوط، فيما تظاهر مئات الأقباط أمام مكتبة الإسكندرية.
وتأتي هذه الاشتبكات احتجاجاً على ما يقول الأقباط إنه هدم لكنيسة في قرية الماريناب بمدينة أدفو بأسوان بواسطة متشددين، والمطالبة بتشكيل لجنة لتقصى الحقائق وإلقاء القبض على المعتدين، والمطالبة بإقالة محافظ أسوان، وإعادة بناء الكنيسة من جديد على نفقة الحكومة، وإصدار قانون موحد لدور العبادة.
إلا أن المحافظ يقول إنها لم تكن كنيسة وإنما مضيفة، وأن واقعة تزوير من بعض الموظفين في مجلس مدينة أدفو وراء استخراج تراخيص ترميمها ككنيسة.
وحمل عشرات الأقباط في مسيرتهم من دوران شبرا إلى ماسبيرو أكفانهم، وارتدوا الملابس البيضاء التي كتب عليها أسماء بعض ضحايا العنف الطائفي، وسط هتافات ضد محافظ أسوان، حيث قاموا بحرق صورته وسط هتافات آلاف الأقباط مرددين “باطل.. باطل”.
وارتفعت اللافتات والصلبان على طول شارع شبرا، حيث طالب المتظاهرون الحكومة بالتدخل لحل قضايا الأقباط.
وقال القمص متياس نصر، الأب الروحى لحركة شباب ماسبيرو، إن المسيرة تعبر عن المواطنين المصريين المسيحيين، لأنهم جزء من هذا الوطن، لهم كامل الحقوق التى تم تجاهلها على مدار سنين طويلة.
October 9th, 2011, 3:56 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
346. TARA said:
“Aljazeera reporting clashes between the Copts and the Egyptian police in Cairo. 22 dead and 100 injured”
Why are they always looking for a fight ? ever since the revolution they have been moving around with a chip on the shoulder.
October 9th, 2011, 4:04 pm
Tara said:
Khaled
I don’t know much details yet. I do know that the Egyptians should be particularly tuned in into solving the Copts’ issues at this time as they are feeling particularly vulnerable.
October 9th, 2011, 4:11 pm
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
@ Ya Mara Ghalba
“SANA reported Assad saying today 9 Oct 2011 “The reform process will be proceeding and it is being carried out based on a sovereign decision independent of any foreign dictates.” We don’t need to hear that Syria doesn’t take dictation from foreigners. What we need to hear is the status of the revision to the Constitution.”
I applaud your intellectual integrity. Your position is clearly a nuanced one, which is far more than I can say for many of the people on this board. Let me ask you this: At one point would you lose faith in Assad’s reform agenda? For example, if article eight was still in place in a month’s time, would you say, “enough is enough”? Where do you draw the line. Thanks.
October 9th, 2011, 4:39 pm
Tara said:
Moualim issued a strong statement today warning Arab and foreign governments of not to give the SNC any legitimization. Hollow threat? What can the regime do?
October 9th, 2011, 4:53 pm
Ya Mara Ghalba said:
Aboud #176 said: “Meshaal Tamo’s funeral was shot at and people killed…*by the regime’s thugs*. The only people who did not pay their condolences were any representatives *from the regime*.”
According to SANA the Governor of Hasaka province attended Tammo’s funeral and said, and it’s my interpretation that this was said by the Governor in a speech at the funeral, “This crime committed by the armed terrorist groups aims at undermining the stability of the province.” http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2011/10/09/374306.htm
Aboud #176 said: “The regime will never allow free and fair elections.” This year the regime has already passed essentially all the legislation necesary for conducting free and fair elections. Read the legislation. (The removal of Article 8 of the Constitution is not strictly necessary for free and fair elections, though it is of course strictly necessary for other reasons). Now is a good time to start up a new political party, because not much competition is in the field yet, and the early-entrant advantage is there for the taking.
Aboud #176 said: “An independent press, like the Lebanese have, might as well be the apocalypse to Besho.” The regime has been saying repeatedly that it desires and encourages an independent press, provided the press complies with certain rules, one of which is that the press is not allowed to disseminate unverified and misleading scurrilous slander. Aboud would never be able to operate a press legally because he’s an incorrigible violator of that rule — e.g. Aboud reports at #176 “I’ve lost count of the number of doctor, lawyer and engineer sit ins in Aleppo that were brutally broken up by the regime.”
October 9th, 2011, 5:00 pm
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
“Why are they always looking for a fight ? ever since the revolution they have been moving around with a chip on the shoulder.”
I just knew you would pop your head up and say something stupid about this, but I didn’t bet on you being so quick.
They were annoyed because someone had gone and burnt their church down. And not only that, the encouragement to do so came from an Egyptian official. If someone burnt down your local mosque, you would be apoplectic, and you know it, so don’t come on here claiming that the copts are making a big deal out of nothing.
October 9th, 2011, 5:03 pm
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
that last comment was directed at Khalid Klass
October 9th, 2011, 5:05 pm
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
apologies, that should be Khalid Tlass not Khlaid Klass, my mistake.
October 9th, 2011, 5:07 pm
Ya Mara Ghalba said:
@ DFGIB: I can go along with what Russia’s president Medvedev said a couple of days ago: “If the Syrian leadership is unable to complete such reforms, it will have to go, but this decision should be made not by NATO and certain European countries, it should be made by the people of Syria and the government of Syria.”
October 9th, 2011, 5:07 pm
Dale Andersen said:
Memo To: Khalidio Tlassaccio
RE: “…why are they always looking for a fight? ever since the revolution they have been moving around with a chip on the shoulder…”
So the Christians are being a tad too chippy for your mohammedan tastes, eh? Well well well. Too fucking bad, Khallie.
The deal is this. The Copts of Egypt see themselves as the TRUE Egyptians, and these smelly sons of Mo Mohammed as latecomers, interlopers. You dig?
Chistianity in Egypt predates Islam by 700 years. It was an Egyption Christian, for example, who carried the gospel to Ethiopia in the 4th century. The Copts of Egypt are the people who kept the faith, refused to bend to the dictates of the Arab imperialist colonialists who turned everything upside-down with their outlandish ways and their “my way or the highway” religion.
But basically, like a lot of Syrians with respect to the Besho Boys, the Copts are sick and tired of having their lives ruined by people who couldn’t care less whether they live or die.
October 9th, 2011, 5:10 pm
Norman said:
Tara,
The copts in Egypt want to be treated as equal, can worship and build churches and equal rights to government jobs, I spoke to an Egyptian Muslim friend of mine , he told that specialties in Urology and obstetrics and Gyn are limited to Muslims and copts are not allowed to do these specialties,
can you see that allowed in the US where Muslims can not be in the FBI or the police.
As long as there is no separation between church, Mosque and state, and that is impossible in the Arab world the whole Arab world is going down the path of religous states ,
October 9th, 2011, 5:11 pm
Ya Mara Ghalba said:
If this post is a duplicate, it’s because the “delete” at the text entry box is not working.
@ DFGIB #351: I can go along with what Russia’s president Medvedev said a couple of days ago: “If the Syrian leadership is unable to complete such reforms, it will have to go, but this decision should be made not by NATO and certain European countries, it should be made by the people of Syria and the government of Syria.”
October 9th, 2011, 5:13 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
Anyway, some more points I want to add about my “vision” for Syria –
1. Create a mechanism for devolution of power. Creating Municipal councils, village councils, District boards, etc. so as to give more power to the grassroots and local self-government. Hold periodic free-and-fair elections to the local civic bodies and allow them to manage their own affairs and enjoy considerable financial autonomy.
2. About the economy –
Liberalise the economy, cut red tape, liberalise the economy by disinvestment – privatizing unproductive public sector companies by selling them off to competitive Turkish, Saudi and American businesses, and get rid of the lazy Alawi civil servants.
3. Cut taxes for Hama, Homs, Dara’a, Idleb and Deirezzor and increase taxes for Halab ( sorry Sheila).
4. Create a huge and booming defence industry and sell arms to anybody in the world who pays a heft sum, and use the money to build hospitals and schools. This way we kill two birds with one stone – reduce our dependece on foreign military aid and increase revenues.
October 9th, 2011, 5:13 pm
John khouri said:
Churches set on fire and demolished I’n Egypt. This is the Islamist extremist revolution
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE7981Q220111009?irpc=932
October 9th, 2011, 5:21 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
354. DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
“If someone burnt down your local mosque”
They already did, in Hama, Talbiseh and Deirezzor.
357. Dale Andersen said :
Why the hell do Copts reject Arab identity when they speak Arabic ? Are they another version of those little devils, the Maarounis ( Maronites) who claim they are Phoenician and not Arab ??
358. Norman said :
Please take your minority complex elsewhere, banning people from entering a few medical disciplines is certainly nor the height of discrimination. And btw, if such a law did exist, why didn;t the secular Mubarak remove it ?
October 9th, 2011, 5:21 pm
annie said:
I wish I could write; since I can\’t, I borrow and paste; this sad report – nothing very new but a stone on top of the others – is from the UK Ambassador\’s blog, a comment at http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/roller/collis/entry/the_truth_is_what_big#comment-330416023
rami wrote:
I would like to take part as it’s no longer acceptable in my opinion to stand by – either as a Syrian or a human.
I’m Syrian, live in Syria. I have always lived in fear (until recently) of being taken up by the security forces or secret police even when I speak to my closest friend about corruption or politics in private.
Every now and again the Syrian TV comes up with a silly production of somebody confessing that he shot civilians and policemen. Not a single time have the brilliant presenters interviewed a security member or ‘anti riot police’ as they like to call them, confessing the killing (even by mistake) of a civilian! Not once they mentioned the name of only one civilian killed during the revolution.
It’s not surprising that the Syria TV is part of the police state. Which means Syrians for them mean nothing. Likewise; the political regime: four appearances so far for the president and not in one of them he addressed the people of Syria. He would always speak through people to Syrians!
If arguably there are ‘armed gangs’ in every area particularly where people demonstrate (not in Damascus and Aleppo) then the political regime should resign too because their job is to provide security to the people and they failed after7 months of insecurity! Mind you, if people of Aleppo start to take to street now, the Syrian army will definitely go there to fight ‘the armed gangs’ and the surprise is some Syrians will believe it – only because they want to!
Why the international media is banned from entering Syria? Even countries that support the regime like China and Russia can’t send their media outlets to cover revolution in Syria!! The simple answer is fear of the truth!
The regime’s repeated talks about conspiracy and targeting resistance means that all Syrians are traitors! In other words only those people in power now are pan-Arabism advocates and resistant.
We can elect other Syrian president who could be resistant and pan Arabism promoter but not dictator. why the only possible way of living, ruling, politics, economy is the regime’s?!
in Syria nothing moves without permission (there was a joke that NIH1 didn’t enter Syria because Security forces stopped it at the borders) so the news of people protesting near the French embassy or American embassy and throwing stones is all planned by the government. No one dares to throw a rose on such VIP people in Syria.
The security officers gave orders to civil servants (who are used constantly by the regime) in establishments to order the employees to do so! A repeated similar practices is done near mosques is that plain-clothed security forces rally pro regime in a attempt to make people think that they are normal Syrians rallying out of love!!
Respectable companies, if they receive a complaint about something, they take it very seriously because out of 100 people only one bother to write a complain. Similarly, in Syria, the people who want the change are the majority but many don’t bother (some time too scared) to take to street and complain!
Civil servants, traffic police, army and Security apparatus have been used by government to quell protests.
what is left is for the government to call for military intervention to help it to kill the Syrian peaceful protesters. Well, Syrian foreign minister has already asked for some international support!
The real humanitarian catastrophe will take place not if the protests continue but if they stop!!
October 9th, 2011, 5:24 pm
Husam said:
OTW:
Thank you for chiming in. I agree then, it was probably both. Have you been to Turkey lately?
Before seeing Turkey for my own, I wanted to have nothing of them. But quickly, I realized their enormous success (Erodogan and prior); I was in for a real surprise. Erdogan already said he is not running for a 4th term (nothing in the charter said he can’t). He is not for personal gain but for Turkey.
Also, are you personally impressed that a moderate muslim has pleased the secularist or do you think it is possible he is setting the stage for something else?
A close observation, the Ataturk craze is fading out especially with the young. Like the Arab youth, they are fed up with idols. And, they are now understanding that their history is more than just one man.
As for your Bülent Ecevit, the father of the CHP (known for the famous Sex Scandal Tapes & Orgies), his resume doesn’t impress me much. What do you think of the Gülen movement’s influence prior to Erdogan?
October 9th, 2011, 5:27 pm
Husam said:
John Khouri:
You left out an important part of the puzzle: the governor lit the match on an already boiling situation by saying publicly there was no permit to build that church. My understanding is that it was built without a permit.
October 9th, 2011, 5:33 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
Its surprising to see all these Egyptian Governors and bureaucrats who had sworn by secularism in Mubarak’s time behaving like bazaari Islamists. Can anybody come up with a plausible explanation.
October 9th, 2011, 5:37 pm
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
@ KHLAID TLASS “Why the hell do Copts reject Arab identity when they speak Arabic ? Are they another version of those little devils, the Maarounis ( Maronites) who claim they are Phoenician and not Arab ??”
I have no idea whether you speak Arabic or not, but if you don’t, why aren’t you a Christian? Pretty dumb idea right? Well, that’s exactly your logic. Should all those Pakistani Muslims that are unable to speak Arabic suddenly convert to Christianity? Of course not.
The Middle East is the way it is today because of bigots like yourself. For the life of me I don’t know why you are so concerned with people of other faiths.
October 9th, 2011, 6:02 pm
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
@ NORMAN As long as there is no separation between church, Mosque and state, and that is impossible in the Arab world the whole Arab world is going down the path of religous states ,
Spot on, i completely agree.
October 9th, 2011, 6:04 pm
Muhammad said:
Syrian mufti threatens to send suicide bombers of children and Lebanese Christians to America and Europe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDHDBSXWRnQ
Qaddafi … every step of the way … I’m waiting for the summoning the Gin scene.
October 9th, 2011, 6:05 pm
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
@ KHLAID TLASS
You are so hell bent on creating your own Islamic state that you are alienating those whose support you seek in the toppling of Assad. As much as I despise the incumbent government, I would not want to live in your model apartheid state, and I don’t think many other people would want to either. You are the reason why many Westerners have such a negative impression of Islam. You need to realise that intolerance (in all its forms) is antithetical to the idea of a modern state.
October 9th, 2011, 6:14 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
370. DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
@ KHLAID TLASS
“You are so hell bent on creating your own Islamic state that you are alienating those whose support you seek in the toppling of Assad. As much as I despise the incumbent government, I would not want to live in your model apartheid state, and I don’t think many other people would want to either. You are the reason why many Westerners have such a negative impression of Islam. You need to realise that intolerance (in all its forms) is antithetical to the idea of a modern state”.
I DO NOT seek to establish an Islamic State in Syria. I want ” a bit of our own back”, I mean revenge. Not an Islamic State. I also want security for the future, that another Alawi-led coup will not occur, and for that I need to ensire certain things. An apartheid State is not a theocratic state, South Africa and Rhodesia were not theocratic states.
October 9th, 2011, 6:19 pm
uzair8 said:
Syrian actor defects to opposition
By Jane Arraf
Sun, 2011-10-09
“Are you a student?” I asked a Syrian man near the border with Jordan, where thousands have fled to escape the escape the violence in their home country.
“I’m an actor,” he said.
I didn’t recognize him but many Arab film-goers would. It was Saad Lostan – the star of “After the Rain” and TV series “My Heart is With You” – waiting for Jordanian authorities to let him begin life in exile.
Lostan told me he’d left his apartment in Damascus after being in hiding for more than a month. He had helped organize anti-government demonstrations in the Syrian capital and said secret police had twice raided his home and sent word that they were looking for him.
“I don’t think I’m very dangerous,” he said with a weary smile.
Read more: * Check out the first comment at the end of the article.
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2011/10/09/syrian-actor-defects-opposition
October 9th, 2011, 6:24 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
Hassoun words imply terrorism,I guess this is what Muallem meant also, when he said he will punish Europe, and what Assad told Turkish FM that he will do.
October 9th, 2011, 6:25 pm
John khouri said:
@365 – husam, so u r saying to me that the 1000’s of mosques built in egypt all have permits? Wake up to urself and realise the truth about what is happening. The EVIL Muslim Brotherhood has already started to show its true colors. This is the real face of the Revolution and of the islamic extremist Muslim Brotherhood
October 9th, 2011, 6:30 pm
Tara said:
Muhamad @ 369
Shame on mufti Hassoun threatening suicide bombers killing civillians. He reminds me with the empty threats Quaddafi issued before his ouster. Obviously, Hassoun has not read the Quraan lately and he is in dire need for a crash course in Islam.
October 9th, 2011, 6:35 pm
Husam said:
John,
R u speculating that a few 100 Mosque don’t have building permits? Can u provide us some proof?
It was stupid of the governor to open his mouth at times like these.
October 9th, 2011, 6:46 pm
Tara said:
It is also so demeaning for the sovereignty of Lebsnon that a Sunni mufti from Syria Is threatening to use Lebanese to unleash a wave of suicide bombers in the US, France, and England. Suicide bombers kill civilians. Who is he going to recruit and from what sect?
Any one who incite, threat and legitimize terrorism is a terrorist and should be declared as such.
October 9th, 2011, 6:46 pm
uzair8 said:
Shaykh Habib Umar (Yemen) on the protests and revolutions in the Middle East and a piece of good news for all (March 2011 ?)
Al-Habib was asked regarding the current unfolding events and do note of the statements in bold, echoing the same message from other awliyas such as Sheikh Nazim etc..
—–
Sayyidi al-Habib `Umar bin Hafiz was asked: what is the position of the scholars on recent events in Yemen and in other Arab states? How should we respond to these events? Is it not true that, “he who does not concern himself with the affairs of the Muslims is not one of them?”
He replied: “Concern for the affairs of the Muslims was a duty before these events, it remains so during them and continues to be so after. Whoever does not expend efforts in du`a and pleading with Allah (to rectify the affairs of the Muslims) in the day and the night has fallen short in this duty. The one who is capable of offering assistance to relatives or friends or anyone else in the country which he lives and fails to do so is lacking in his concern for the for the affairs of the Muslims.
“The scholars offer guidance to all — to those who demand their rights and likewise to those from whom such rights are being demanded. They direct people to that which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) directed Sayyiduna `Umar. He said to him[1]: “Request that he asks in the best way, and request that I repay him in the best way.” They emphasise to all the sanctity of people’s blood, property and honour, as the Messenger of Allah clearly emphasised this. They stress that no-one, whether they are the rulers or the ones being ruled, has the right to harm anyone else. No-one has the right to permit the spilling of another’s blood, the damage or wrongful taking of his property or for his honour to be damaged under any circumstances.
“The Muslims should know the true station of the scholars in Islam. It is not for the rulers or the ruled to use the scholars on a whim when they feel the need to do so. The scholars are bearers of a sacred trust, bearers of the legacy of Prophethood. What they say must be respected in all situations. It is not for the rulers to constantly go against the guidance of the scholars and then to use them when they need them. Nor is it for those being ruled to live in heedlessness of them, ignorant of their station and then when they need them to ask: “where are the scholars?” The scholars are not an item that can be chosen at a whim by either party.
“There is no doubt that this a time of tribulations and that there are more tribulations to come. We have been informed about them on the tongue of Prophethood. We have been warned against taking sides and contributing to these conflicts. We have taken a covenant to clarify to all what their duty is. People may then accept this advice, in which case they are then set to receive the mercy of Allah, or they may reject it. Allah will in the end call everyone to account.
“In spite of all this, beyond these severe troubles we know that Allah will bring relief and salvation to the nation of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family). We ask Allah that the end result is good and that He rectifies the affairs of the Muslims wherever they are.”
October 9th, 2011, 6:51 pm
sheila said:
To #340. Mina,
Do you seriously believe that Turkey is where it is today because of the money of the expats in Germany?
Tow problems with this theory:
1- The Turkish expats in Germany are mostly poor laborers.
2- There are as many Syrians outside the country as inside the country. If your theory holds any water, then why didn’t the same boom happen in Syria?
Seriously MINA, it is all about good governance. It is about having people in power who care about the country, not just about their Swiss bank accounts.
October 9th, 2011, 6:51 pm
free-syrian said:
the Free Syrian Army, blowing the crap out of Assad’s tanks in Rastan
October 9th, 2011, 7:04 pm
uzair8 said:
I was watching TV several hours ago. Checked various news channels until I stopped at Russia Today which was reporting about Syria. They showed a brief clip of an interview with Buthaina Shaaban and said the full interview would be shown in the next half hour. I missed it.
Here it is on their website:
http://rt.com/news/syria-terrorists-democracy-shaaban-405/
October 9th, 2011, 7:08 pm
Muhammad said:
Tara
Hasson said he is going to send another Joul Jammal (a Christian) and Mohammad Dorrah (a child). You are right this is exactly what Qaddafi threatened the West with. Expect calls for jihad against the zioni-salafist invaders from Hasson soon.
The regime is going to terrible lows. The regime has no competition when it comes to depth of their moral gutter. It is now breaking its own records. Just at a time when you thought their media image could not become worse Hasson comes up with this gem. Worse still, the crowd of Christian ladies coming in the convoy of “Mary the Virgin” cheered !!
October 9th, 2011, 7:09 pm
Norman said:
Sheila,
Syria has been under sanctions since the Camp David accord in 1978 , Syria can not buy many products, computers, passenger airlines and others, still with what we see going on in Greece, Spain, portugal, Italy and Ireland , Syria’s government did not and is not mortgaging the future of the Syrian kids with massive debt, Syria would have been a different place without the sanctions.
We should at least value them and the Baath party for that .
October 9th, 2011, 7:20 pm
Tara said:
Muhammad
It is so ironic. Pseudo-Muslims and pseudo-Christians unite in legitimizing terrorism. And for what and whom? The rule of one family over 2 countries. What a shame.
All
There is one explanation for the hollow escalating threats we hear today from Mou’alim and from Hassoun. The regime is scared….very very scared.
October 9th, 2011, 7:23 pm
Ghufran said:
فضيلة حكومة خادم الحرمين
http://www.alquds.co.uk/index.asp?fname=today%5C09qpt960.htm&arc=data%5C2011%5C10%5C10-09%5C09qpt960.htm
Jonathan Steele of the Guardian is accusing Turkey of killing Tamo?
Anybody who can find a link?
October 9th, 2011, 7:33 pm
sheila said:
To all,
First I would like to condemn the burning of the church regardless of whether it was built with or without a permit. but remember that burning the church was done by a few. I do not think it is fair to condemn the whole Muslim community for the acts of a few. The sectarian tensions in Egypt have been around for a very long time. Please note the following:
1- Egypt has one of the lowest literacy rates in the Arab world. Surprising but true. Almost half the women in Egypt can not read or write. In my view, this has direct implications on the situation.
2- One of the main reasons for tension between the two religions is surprisingly enough, love. Every few month, a Muslim man falls in love with a Christian woman or a Christian man falls in love with a Muslim woman and usually all hell breaks loose and it becomes a national issue, especially when it happens in a village or a small town.
3- Both sides are quite religious and just as guilty of atrocities. The only difference is that Muslims are more so their attacks are more effective.
4- Egypt just very recently overthrew her dictator. It is not a magic wand that you wave and voila, democracy flourishes. It takes time. It can take up to a generation to turn things around.
5- The previous government was proven to have incited religious conflicts between the two communities with divide and conquer in mind. Now the new government has to do everything it can to calm things down.
October 9th, 2011, 7:36 pm
Norman said:
Tara,and others,
Hassoun is speaking out of anger from the loss of his son that he blames on the west supported opposition, he should have controlled his emotions, but Syrian and Arabs are known not to be able to do that,
The Syrian government, Baath party, the army and most people are convinced that Syria is under attack to change it’s position on Palestine, they feel that Arab nationalism and Syria as the only known Arab nation supported state are under attack.
October 9th, 2011, 7:41 pm
Husam said:
Norman said:
We should at least value them and the Baath party for that.
I did not know you were a hard core Baathist!
Dude, they did not mortgage the Syrians because they did not allow free economy, banking, etc…not because they cared about the future of Syrian Youth but because they were robbing us blind. They kept it tight between themselves and the Sunni Elite that danced to their tunes.
Syrian would have been a different place… you mean like Turkey 🙂
I would rather be in Greece, Portugal and Italy rather than in Syria’s fountains of blood right now. Norman, I bet you: your US of A will soon be aflame as OWS (Occupy Wall Street) takes momentum. It’s coming to a theatre near you…
October 9th, 2011, 7:43 pm
sheila said:
Dear #382. Norman,
You said:
“Syria has been under sanctions since the Camp David accord in 1978 , Syria can not buy many products, computers, passenger airlines and others, still with what we see going on in Greece, Spain, portugal, Italy and Ireland , Syria’s government did not and is not mortgaging the future of the Syrian kids with massive debt, Syria would have been a different place without the sanctions.
We should at least value them and the Baath party for that “.
I do not know what to say Norman. At this point there is nothing that I can value about this regime. All you are trying to do is dig out some silver lining out of this misery. Really Norman, you live in the US. Can’t you see the difference?. Why are you so successful here and would not have been as successful there?. I remember my father’s friend who was the health director in Aleppo in the late 80s telling us that they had to bring three doctors in Aleppo for a committee hearing because they were working as taxi drivers. You know the truth Norman, please get to that point where you can face it and accept it. Be independent and don’t just follow what your friends and family keep pushing.
October 9th, 2011, 7:45 pm
Norman said:
Sheila,
The problem is not the racism of the people , the problem is that when the church was burned, the governor did not come out to secure the peace but blamed the illegal building of the church,
The government , any government can not be but impartial otherwise people will defend themselves and that is a civil war.
In the US there are many racists, but the government is impartial and racist crimes have harsher penalties exactly for the fear of civil war.
October 9th, 2011, 7:53 pm
Ghufran said:
Reform is not possible with this regime,it is rotten from A to Z but a national unity government following the resignation of Assad and the departure of his top security chiefs is something most Syrians are willing to talk about. Russia will not support the regime forever and Syrians who tolerated 41 years of oppression may be better off giving political powers in Syria few more months to form a body that represent most Syrians.
The SNC represents one segment of the Syrian society but it is far from being THE council. Ignoring seculars,minorities,women,leftists,etc will produce a divisive council that can not govern and is too dependent on foreign governments for its own survival.
Before the SNC seeks international recognition it needs to talk to abdulazeem group and other blocks inside Syria.
October 9th, 2011, 7:58 pm
Norman said:
Husam,
I like the Baath party ideology of unity, freedom and social justice and one Arab nation with eternal mission to improve the world,
I just do not blame the Baath party for the deeds of the opportunists that joined the Baath party because of the one party system that the Baath party was dragged to adopt after the 1963 coup,
Still Syria has no foreign debt, no budget deficit, it does not borrow to waste like Lebanon or other states in the EU.
Sheila,
I came to the US to specialize and stayed because we did not have any money, my father was an electrician, my family did not put a house in my name, we did not even have the money to rent an office because of the turn key fees, I had dreams and responsibilities that require that i succeed so the US is the land of opportunity. lastly, my wife does not want to live in Syria and i can not blame her, I still remember how long we used to wait to buy bread and how many people we had to pay to get an ID Card.
October 9th, 2011, 8:11 pm
sheila said:
Dear #389. Norman,
You said:
“The problem is not the racism of the people , the problem is that when the church was burned, the governor did not come out to secure the peace but blamed the illegal building of the church,
The government , any government can not be but impartial otherwise people will defend themselves and that is a civil war.
In the US there are many racists, but the government is impartial and racist crimes have harsher penalties exactly for the fear of civil war”.
I agree with you 100%. This stupid statement by the governor did nothing but justify the unjustifiable.
October 9th, 2011, 8:12 pm
Tara said:
Norman
Terrorism is not new to the regime. Haven’t Maliki complained of the Syrian regime exporting terrorist to Iraq? Do you really believe Hassoun would dare to venture out in his rhetoric without the regime dictating what he says? This is Syria, Norman. You and I know exactly how things are said..
October 9th, 2011, 8:13 pm
sheila said:
Dear # 390. Ghufran,
You said:
“Reform is not possible with this regime, it is rotten from A to Z but a national unity government following the resignation of Assad and the departure of his top security chiefs is something most Syrians are willing to talk about”.
Amen to that.
October 9th, 2011, 8:15 pm
irritated said:
Husam
I got it, don’t get upset! Turkey is the best Sunni model for the Arabs. Erdogan said it in Egypt, you are saying it here. Amen.
October 9th, 2011, 8:16 pm
Tara said:
Thousands of Kurds could awaken against Syrian regime
Monday 10 October 2011
Syria’s insurgency took a dangerous turn over the weekend after the assassination of a prominent Kurdish opposition leader heightened tension and threatened to turn a once quiescent minority against President Bashar al-Assad.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/8816825/Thousands-of-Kurds-could-awaken-against-Syrian-regime.html
Until Mr Tammo’s death, the minority had only played a peripheral role in the uprising with only a handful of Kurds among the 2,900 people the UN says have been killed in Syria since protests against the regime erupted in March.
Likewise, demonstrations in Kurdish cities have only been small and the regime has been careful to use less force against them in order not to provoke the community.
more…
October 9th, 2011, 8:32 pm
DIGGING FOR GOLD IN BOSRA said:
@ NORMAN
“Still Syria has no foreign debt, no budget deficit, it does not borrow to waste like Lebanon or other states in the EU.”
Dude, what are you talking about?
The reason Syria doesn’t have these things is because the government has mismanaged the country for the past 40 odd years not because of some far-sighted strategic choice they made.
Afghanistan doesn’t have a stock market, isn’t that great, just imagine, no-one has to worry about their pension portfolio losing 10% in a day.
Wow, aren’t those guys in Somali lucky. They don’t have to make hard decisions like whether to have a McDonalds or a Pizza Hut. Jeez, if only the US could be more like Somalia.
It’s a shame you didn’t leave Syria a lot earlier, perhaps then we wouldn’t have to point out the holes in all your arguments.
October 9th, 2011, 8:37 pm
Ghufran said:
لاقت إصلاحات النظام تجاوبا كبيرا من النظام
http://www.alwatanonline.com/policy_news.php?kind=-1&id=2496
October 9th, 2011, 8:44 pm
irritated said:
Husam
I wonder why do you systematically accuse anyone who does not believe in Paradise Turkey that he/she is against Sunnis?
I find this very odd…
October 9th, 2011, 8:47 pm
zoo said:
Civil war in Syria?
Sunday, October 9, 2011
GWYNNE DYER
Back in 1989, when the communist regimes of Europe were tottering toward their end, almost every day somebody would say “There’s going to be a civil war.” And our job, as foreign journalists who allegedly had their finger on the pulse of events, was to say: “No, there won’t be.” So most of us did say that, as if we actually knew. But the locals were pathetically grateful, and we turned out to be right.
It was just the same in South Africa in 1993-94. Another non-violent revolution was taking on another dictatorship with a long record of brutality, and once again most people who had lived their lives under its rule were convinced there would be a civil war. So we foreign journalists (or at least some of us) reassured them that there wouldn’t be, and again we turned out to be right.
Now it’s Syria’s turn, and yet again most of the people who live there fear that their non-violent revolution will end in civil war. It’s not my job to reassure them this time, because like most foreign journalists I can’t even get into the country, but in any case I would have no reassurance to offer. This time, it may well end in civil war. Like Iraq.
The Bashar al-Assad dynasty in Syria is neither better nor worse than Saddam Hussein’s regime was in Iraq. They had identical origins, as local branches of the same pan-Arab political movement, the Baath Party. They both depended on minorities for their core support: the Syrian Baathists on the 10 percent Alawite (a Shiite subsect) minority in that country, and the Iraqi Baathists on the 20 percent of that country’s people who were Sunni Arabs.
They were both ruthless in crushing threats to their monopoly of power. Hafez al-Assad’s troops killed up to 40,000 people in Hama when Sunni Islamists rebelled in Syria in 1982, Saddam Hussein’s army killed at least as many Shiites in southern Iraq when they rebelled after the 1991 Gulf War, and both regimes were systematically beastly to their local Kurds.
When the American invaders destroyed Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq in 2003, however, what ensued was not peace, prosperity and democracy. It was a brutal civil war that ended with Baghdad almost entirely cleansed of its Sunni Muslim population and the whole country cleansed of its Christian minority. Only the Kurds, insulated by their own battle-hardened army and their mountains, avoided the carnage.
So if the Baathist regime in Syria is driven from power, why should we believe that what follows will be any better than it was in Iraq? The country’s ethnic and sectarian divisions are just as deep and complex as Iraq’s, and although non-violent protest continues to be the main weapon of the pro-democracy movement, there is now also violent resistance to the regime’s attacks on the population.
This is not to swallow the Baath regime’s claim that the army is protecting innocent Syrians from terrorist “armed gangs.” The overwhelming majority of the estimated 2,900 civilians killed in the past six months were unarmed protesters killed by soldiers and secret policemen. But some Syrians – especially ex-soldiers who deserted from their units to avoid having to murder civilians – are starting to fight back with weapons.
Time is running out in Syria. The revolutionaries are struggling to keep their movement inclusive and non-violent, but people are retreating into their narrow ethnic and religious identities and resistance is turning violent. The most vulnerable minorities, like the Christians, are starting to think about flight.
If it goes wrong in Syria, it could be almost as bad as the civil war that raged next-door in Lebanon for 15 years: massacres, refugees and devastation. What can be done to avert that outcome? Perhaps nothing short of foreign intervention on behalf of the revolutionaries can stop it now, for otherwise the regime will fight on until the country is destroyed.
Help has to come from outside, and it’s hard to imagine that happening. NATO certainly won’t take this one on: Syria has four times Libya’s population and quite serious armed forces. Non-military intervention in the form of trade embargoes and the like is unlikely to work in time, even if the rest of the world could agree on it.
There is already foreign intervention in Syria, of course, but on the wrong side. The Shiite regimes in Iran and Iraq are already giving material support to the Baathist regime in Syria on the grounds that it is a) Shiite and b) Steadfast in its resistance to Israeli expansion. And there is no point in hoping for timely concessions from President Bashar al-Assad, son of the late, great dictator: he is effectively the prisoner of the Alawite elite.
The Syrian revolutionaries are on their own. They will probably bring down the Baathists in the end, but by then the regime’s increasingly violent efforts to suppress the revolt may well have triggered the civil war that everybody fears. Another six months like the last six months, and it will be all but inevitable.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=civil-war-in-syria-2011-10-09
October 9th, 2011, 8:52 pm
Husam said:
Irritated:
If sunnis irritate you that much, may we prescribe some Bengay 🙂 made in Turkey!
October 9th, 2011, 8:58 pm
sheila said:
Dear Norman,
You an I have completely different life stories that ultimately led to the same conclusion: the US. Unlike you, I come from a well to do family. I grew up with the proverbial golden spoon in my mouth. Had the best of everything. I could most certainly, make a lot more money in Syria than I do here in the US. I pretty much have it made. Yet, just like you, I do not want to go back. Because of many things including the fact that I can not speak my mind. But most importantly, because I can not live happily in a place where justice is in the hands of the powerful and most people are living under the tyranny of a few. I can not watch ordinary people being humiliated on a daily basis. I can not survive where the poor have no chance of getting anywhere in life no matter how hard they worked or how smart they were, except if they resorted to crime and joined the regime thugs. I can not stand the fact that you have no recourse. I can not tolerate the rampant corruption. For me, they took all the oxygen out of Syria and I just can not breath.
October 9th, 2011, 9:21 pm
irritated said:
Husam
Irritated against sunni? Wrong diagnostic.
Irritated against narrow minds, yes!
October 9th, 2011, 9:24 pm
Norman said:
Digging,
Syria has no foreign debt because she lives within it’s means, something we should learn in the US,not because it did not have a stock market.
Tara,
After the invasion of Iraq, we heard in the US voices calling for the US army to turn left and invade Syria, what did expect Syria to do wait till they come into Syria or turn a blind eye on the Saudis and other Arabs who used the fact that Syria does not require visas of Arabs to enter Syria, so the terror that took place in Iraq was not initiated by Syria but Syria did not try to stop it for lack of cooperation by the US government, they wanted Syria to help without them helping Syria, Syria is not a charitable organization, the US should have helped Syria to help the US.
October 9th, 2011, 9:28 pm
majedkhaldoun said:
لاقت إصلاحات النظام تجاوبا كبيرا من النظام
What an intelligent sentence
October 9th, 2011, 9:34 pm
Tara said:
Norman
Did you not hear about the wikileak documents discussing how the Syrian regime trained political prisoners in Sednaya prison in the art of terrorism to sent then to Iraq only to re-arrest them on their return? This I believe was discussed on SC several weeks ago.
October 9th, 2011, 9:39 pm
ann said:
24 dead in worst Cairo riots since Mubarak ouster – 16 mins ago
http://news.yahoo.com/24-dead-worst-cairo-riots-since-mubarak-ouster-232452205.html
CAIRO (AP) — Flames lit up downtown Cairo, where massive clashes raged Sunday, drawing Christians angry over a recent church attack, Muslims and Egyptian security forces. At least 24 people were killed and more than 200 injured in the worst sectarian violence since the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak in February.
The rioting lasted late into the night, bringing out a deployment of more than 1,000 security forces and armored vehicles to defend the state television building along the Nile, where the trouble began. The military clamped a curfew on the area until 7 a.m.
The clashes spread to nearby Tahrir Square, drawing thousands of people to the vast plaza that served as the epicenter of the protests that ousted Mubarak. On Sunday night, they battled each other with rocks and firebombs, some tearing up pavement for ammunition and others collecting stones in boxes.
At one point, an armored security van sped into the crowd, striking a half-dozen protesters and throwing some into the air. Protesters retaliated by setting fire to military vehicles, a bus and private cars, sending flames rising into the night sky.
After midnight, mobs roamed downtown streets, attacking cars they suspected had Christian passengers. In many areas, there was no visible police or army presence to confront or stop them.
Christians, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt’s 80 million people, blame the country’s ruling military council for being too lenient on those behind a spate of anti-Christian attacks since Mubarak’s ouster. As Egypt undergoes a chaotic power transition and security vacuum in the wake of the uprising, the Coptic Christian minority is particularly worried about the show of force by ultraconservative Islamists.
Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, addressing the nation in a televised speech, said the violence threatened to throw Egypt’s post-Mubarak transition off course.
“These events have taken us back several steps,” he said. “Instead of moving forward to build a modern state on democratic principles we are back to seeking stability and searching for hidden hands — domestic and foreign — that meddle with the country’s security and safety.”
“I call on Egyptian people, Muslims and Christians, women and children, young men and elders to hold their unity,” Sharaf said.
The Christian protesters said their demonstration began as a peaceful attempt to sit in at the television building. But then, they said, they came under attack by thugs in plainclothes who rained stones down on them and fired pellets.
“The protest was peaceful. We wanted to hold a sit-in, as usual,” said Essam Khalili, a protester wearing a white shirt with a cross on it. “Thugs attacked us and a military vehicle jumped over a sidewalk and ran over at least 10 people. I saw them.”
Wael Roufail, another protester, corroborated the account. “I saw the vehicle running over the protesters. Then they opened fired at us,” he said.
Khalili said protesters set fire to army vehicles when they saw them hitting the protesters.
Ahmed Yahia, a Muslim resident who lives near the TV building, said he saw the military vehicle plow into protesters. “I saw a man’s head split into two halves and a second body flattened when the armored vehicle ran over it. When some Muslims saw the blood they joined the Christians against the army,” he said.
Television footage showed the military vehicle slamming into the crowd. Coptic protesters were shown attacking a soldier, while a priest tried to protect him. One soldier collapsed in tears as ambulances rushed to the scene to take away the injured.
At least 24 people were killed in the clashes, Health Ministry official Hisham Sheiha said on state TV.
State media reported that Egypt’s interim Cabinet was holding an emergency session to discuss the situation.
The protest began in the Shubra district of northern Cairo, then headed to the state television building along the Nile where men in plainclothes attacked about a thousand Christian protesters as they chanted denunciations of the military rulers.
“The people want to topple the field marshal!” the protesters yelled, referring to the head of the ruling military council, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi. Some Muslim protesters later joined in the chant.
Later in the evening, a crowd of Muslims turned up to challenge the Christian crowds, shouting, “Speak up! An Islamic state until death!”
Armed with sticks, the Muslim assailants chased the Christian protesters from the TV building, banging metal street signs to scare them off. It was not immediately clear who the attackers were.
Gunshots rang out at the scene, where lines of riot police with shields tried to hold back hundreds of Christian protesters chanting, “This is our country!”
Security forces eventually fired tear gas to disperse the protesters. The clashes then moved to nearby Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the uprising against Mubarak. The army closed off streets around the area.
The clashes left streets littered with shattered glass, stones, ash and soot from burned vehicles. Hundreds of curious onlookers gathered at one of the bridges over the Nile to watch the unrest.
After hours of intense clashes, chants of “Muslims, Christians one hand, one hand!” rang out in a call for a truce. The stone-throwing died down briefly, but then began to rage again.
In the past weeks, riots have broken out at two churches in southern Egypt, prompted by Muslim crowds angry over church construction. One riot broke out near the city of Aswan, even after church officials agreed to a demand by ultraconservative Muslims known as Salafis that a cross and bells be removed from the building.
Aswan’s governor, Gen. Mustafa Kamel al-Sayyed, further raised tensions by suggesting to the media that the church construction was illegal.
Protesters said the Copts are demanding the ouster of the governor, reconstruction of the church, compensation for people whose houses were set on fire and prosecution of those behind the riots and attacks on the church.
Last week, the military used force to disperse a similar protest in front of the state television building. Christians were angered by the treatment of the protesters and vowed to renew their demonstrations until their demands are met.
October 9th, 2011, 9:42 pm
Norman said:
Sheila,
The single most important problem in Syria is the single party system it is the cancer that corrupt people even good people,
The Syrian government and president Assad understand that, and multi party elections are comming soon, Syria needs soft landing otherwise civil war will be the result and another dictatorship will replace the present one.
October 9th, 2011, 9:42 pm
Mick said:
#404 Sheila..
Have you noticed the Occupy Wall Street thingee going on here in America? About how the rich in the country are getting massive bonuses after taking the country to the brink?
Ring a bell?
How’s about heading to East St. Louis and talk to the folks there about how America cares for its citizens. Or Oakland. Or Detroit. Or the South Side of Chicago. Or the ninth ward in New Orleans. These people have no voice in society. Try getting past the corporate lobbyists in DC to get your voice heard. The scientific community with solid evidence of global warming can’t.
So you can write about it here in the great U.S. Talk about it. Make songs. Big deal. If you get too big, you will be squashed. It’s been that way forever. Ask the Smothers Brothers.
October 9th, 2011, 9:42 pm
jad said:
I would be so happy to see people on this site become nonviolence supporter and anti-terrorism if they were genuine, however, all those who suddenly become peace lovers, nonviolence and anti terrorism are hypocrites because it suited them, not because they care, and they suddenly become so offended by Hassoun’s speech….
Weren’t you the ones calling for Syria to be bombed by the west, for Syrians to become poorer and under sanctions, weren’t you the ones who are calling for every Syrian to be armed and for the army to start killing each other so the violence take over the whole country?
Your BS is Unbelievable!
You took Hasson speech out of the context for pure political reasons and not out of your sudden humanity:
He started saying that the moment Syria is “BOMBED”, (Which all of you hypocrites are calling for that day in day out), with the first BOMB to be dropped over Syria, every Syrian and every Lebanese, men and women, will become martyrs’ projects in Europe the States and in Palestine, if the West dared to ‘BOMBARD’ Syria or Lebanon.
From this day on (the day when Syria or Lebanon is bombed) it will be an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and the west should know that not only Arabs or Muslims are the ones who will attack them also Christians and children too because they BOMBED Syria/Lebanon, not OUT THE BLUE as you promote on here.
(FYI, I’m not with what Hassoun said and I’m actually very surprised by his aggressive comments, unusual for him.)
October 9th, 2011, 9:47 pm
Darryl said:
360. KHALID TLASS said:
2. About the economy –
“Liberalise the economy, cut red tape, liberalise the economy by disinvestment – privatizing unproductive public sector companies by selling them off to competitive Turkish, Saudi and American businesses, and get rid of the lazy Alawi civil servants.”
Mr Tlass can you elaborate how the country will deal with families who have a dozen children and can barely afford to eat bread?
“3. Cut taxes for Hama, Homs, Dara’a, Idleb and Deirezzor and increase taxes for Halab ( sorry Sheila).
Excellent idea, as they say in the west rob Peter to pay for Paul or the other way around perhaps, not sure anymore.
“4. Create a huge and booming defence industry and sell arms to anybody in the world who pays a heft sum, and use the money to build hospitals and schools. This way we kill two birds with one stone – reduce our dependece on foreign military aid and increase revenues.”
You have managed to score lots of green points this time. I wonder if it is due to this excellent idea. You finally may have put on your thinking cap, keep it on as you need to think a bit more like:
A. You need to employ the Mukhaburat to start covert wars.
B. Syria has no electronic industry, you can come up with a Vacuum tube based DSPs and Microprocessors. Syria can lead in that area as we do not need to infringe any patents.
C. Syria has no steel or materials industry, we just find a process to compress toilet paper into strong military grade materials used to make jets, tanks, cannons etc. Better yet, use waste from olive oil production (Timiz) that resembles high tech carbon fiber composites.
D. Syria has no experience in Jet engines, but we will have many unemployed people, so that we develop Jet engines where people sit inside and paddle the Turbo-fan to develop thrust. An added bonus, no patent infringement.
I have exhausted my self now. Can you remind me why you are not living in KSA gain, I must have missed it?
October 9th, 2011, 9:48 pm
Norman said:
Tara,
Wiki leaks are opinions and hear say, they are discussions and might not be true,
October 9th, 2011, 9:50 pm
Ghufran said:
من قتل مشعل تمو؟
يصر الكثيرون ان النظام قتله
الأكراد اصحاب العلاقه لم يتهموا أحدا بعينه
البعض و انا منهم يستبعد ان النظام قتله لان قتله الان لا يصب في مصلحة النظام الذي افرج عنه في حزيران قبل انتهاء مدة سجنه
لم تستبعد المبادرة الوطنية لأكراد سورية وصحيفة “الغارديان” البريطانية أن تكون الاستخبارات التركية وراء اغتيال المعارض السوري الكردي مشعل تمو، بينما فضلت أحزاب الحركة الوطنية الكردية في سورية التريث قبل توجيه الاتهام إلى أي طرف.
وقال رئيس المبادرة الوطنية عمر أوسي في مقابلة مع الفضائية السورية: إن “مشعل تمو خسارة للأكراد ولسورية، واغتاليه يأتي في إطار المؤامرة الرامية إلى استهداف الشخصيات المعروفة لافتعال فتنة بين الشريحة الكردية والسلطة”.
وشدد أوسي على أن الشعب الكردي “لن تنطلي عليه هذه المؤامرة ولن ينجر إلى التمرد والتخريب”، مضيفاً: “من غير المستبعد أن تكون أجهزة استخبارات بعض دول الجوار ومنها الاستخبارات التركية تقف وراء هذه الجريمة”.
إصابة معاون مدير زراعة حمص وعدد من موظفي المديرية بجروح مسلحين
تشييع جثامين 9 شهداء من الجيش والمدنيين في سورية
اعتصام أمام السفارة التركية في عمان للتنديد بتدخل أنقرة في شؤون سورية
مارغيلوف يلتقي الاثنين ممثلي المعارضة السورية بالداخل
في ذات السياق، أكد مراسل صحيفة “غارديان” البريطانية في الموصل شمال العراق جوناثان ستيل أن المخابرات التركية هي التي تقف خلف إغتيال مشعل تمو.
وأضاف ستيل في تقرير وصف بالسري جداً والعاجل، أن الاغتيال جاء ردا “على العملية التي قامت بها المخابرات السورية بالقبض على الضابط السوري الفار حسين هرموش داخل الأراضي التركية”.
وأعرب ستيل عن اعتقاده بأن تركيا أرادت من وراء عملية الاغتيال تحقيق هدفين بضربة واحدة حيث تخلصت من معارض كردي هام ومميز، وألقت بالتهمة على السلطات السورية الأمر الذي يمكن استثماره لتنشيط الاحتجاجات ضد السلطات السورية من جديد في شمال سورية بعد حالة الهدوء التي عادت للمنطقة.
October 9th, 2011, 9:50 pm
sheila said:
Dear 410. Mick,
I do not disagree with what you said. I have not claimed that the US is perfect. It has many problems. I do not know of any country that can boast a perfect system. Everything in life is relative. You just can not compare what we have in the US to what we have in Syria.
October 9th, 2011, 9:55 pm
Ghufran said:
إصلاحات النظام لاقت تجاوبا كبيرا من النظام
لم يفهم البعض هذه الجمله العربيه البسيطه
تلك الإصلاحات الورقيه يا اصحاب الفخامه لا تساوي اي شيء في ظل استمرار القمع و تغييب المعارضه الوطنيه
قيل لابي تمام لم تقول ما لا يفهم؟ فاجاب لم لا تفهم مل يقال؟
October 9th, 2011, 10:00 pm
Tara said:
Terrorism is killing civillians. Assad is terrorist and also traitor because he is killing peaceful demonstrators who are his own people. Armed resistance is MORAL and lack of it is immoral when you a d your loved one are being tortured, killed and subjugated day in and day out. The revolution and its representative, the NSC, has so far rejected foreign intervention. However, if the people on the ground who are getting killed asking for international protection, it is their call not the call of someone sitting behind a computer screen spending crocodile tears. Croccodile tears do not deceive anybody. People who talks about hypocrisy are text book example of it.
October 9th, 2011, 10:00 pm
Norman said:
The Syrian government should do what the US government did in Iraq, move with election and political reform with the guns blazing, people who want to join the political process are the winners while the others are the losers, sooner or later and as long as the Syrian government is determent political reform and multi party systems will take hold and the ones who refuse participation will join in later as in Iraq,
October 9th, 2011, 10:10 pm
Husam said:
Irritated said:
Irritated against sunni? Wrong diagnostic. Irritated against narrow minds, yes!
Enlighten us on your solution, Mr. Big Brain, who’s your model?
If you can’t tolerate Turkey’s success, then go itch some more.
October 9th, 2011, 10:12 pm
Tara said:
Ghufran @ 414
Read the link I posted in 397
I quote: “Fares Tammo, the dead man’s son, urged Syria’s 1.7 million Kurds to throw their support behind the revolt and predicted that their participation would prove the decisive factor in overthrowing Mr Assad.
“My father’s assassination is the screw in the regime’s coffin,” he told the New York Times. “They made a big mistake by killing my father.”
October 9th, 2011, 10:13 pm
Ghufran said:
شعير البلد و لا حنطه جلب
http://www.alquds.co.uk/index.asp?fname=today%5C09qpt986.htm%20&%20arc=data%5C2011%5C10%5C10-09%5C09qpt986.htm
Tara,
Fares just lost his father,he might be right in his reaction. The coming days or weeks will tell us more. The regime is desperate to win the Kurds to their side. Killing Tammo is not in the regime’s best interest,he was far less hawkish than many in the opposition,and the last thing the regime needs is losing the Kurds. I am simply not ready to join the choir on this matter.
I am afraid that we will witness more assassinations targeting pro regime figures and moderate opposition figures especially among those who oppose foreign intervention.
October 9th, 2011, 10:27 pm
Tara said:
It is shame what happened in Egypt today. Let the Copts demonstrate as much as they want. Assailants who tried to chase the demonstrators should be arrested. The government is responsible for the demonstrator’s safety and should be held accountable if it can not provide them protection.
October 9th, 2011, 10:31 pm
zoo said:
From Libya to Syria and Armenia, Turkish-French rivalry is back
Sunday, October 9, 2011
MURAT YETKİN
Last week on Oct. 7, the French Interior Minister signed a conceptual agreement with his Turkish host İdris Naim Şahin on the joint struggle against terrorism. Opening the door for operational cooperation as well, the agreement is the first of its kind for Turkey; France has similar, even more detailed ones with a limited number of countries, including the U.S.
But as Turkish and French ministers were preparing for the agreement ceremony in the morning, French President Nicolas Sarkozy was on his way to Armenia to make bitter statements that Turkey should admit the allegation that massacres against Armenians in the last years of the Ottoman Empire amounted to genocide.
It was like an ultimatum since Sarkozy was giving a deadline to Ankara by the end of this year, or else. A reporter for Hürriyet asked him in Yerevan whether he had a schedule in mind for official recognition of the alleged genocide by France, since it was Sarkozy himself who blocked a resolution by the French Parliament over the past four years.
No, he did not have any schedule in mind, but he implied the approaching of the 100th year of the infamous campaign of 1915 that led to the cleansing of the native Armenian population of Turkey before the end of WWI that triggered the War of Liberation in which the Ottoman Empire ended as well.
Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoğlu’s reply to that the next day was interesting: France should first face with its colonialist past in Africa before attacking Turkey’s past.
This was a mind-opening correlation to make. Like a Freudian slip, in return to what Sarkozy had said in his tour of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan to mark their 20th year of independence from the former Soviet Union, Davutoğlu recalled the refreshed rivalry in the Arabian North Africa, or Maghreb, almost a century ago.
This year marked the 100th year of Turkish withdrawal from Libya and Algeria to leave the rule of the lands to Italy and France respectively. Perhaps that was the reason why Sarkozy, having British Prime Minister David Cameron as a companion, rushed to Benghazi a day before Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited the Libyan city.
It can be speculated that Sarkozy sees Erdoğan as an obstacle in front of his country’s Maghreb comeback. Perhaps it was a subconscious reflex that pushed Sarkozy to the Turkish and Russian backyard of Caucasus to disturb Turkey’s balances there.
There is of course another theater that could cause another Turkish-French face off in the region: Syria. The Turkish southernmost province of Hatay, where camps are set up for those who escaped from the Beshar al-Assad regime, joined Turkey from a French mandate in 1938 through a plebiscite. France would not like to see Turkey increase its influence again in the Mediterranean basin almost after a century of keeping a low profile after the WWI defeat in 1918.
It seems that the two NATO members are likely to get into more political confrontation, which has a tendency to escalate, unless the two countries find new cooperation areas, not necessarily security but especially economics, which would bind their interests together.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=from-libya-to-syria-and-armenia-turkish-french-rivalry-is-back-2011-10-09
October 9th, 2011, 10:35 pm
NK said:
Will this one last more than 12 days ?
النفط تصدر قراراً برفع أسعار الفيول.. والطن بـ 13 ألف بدل 8500 ليرة
http://www.syria-news.com/readnews.php?sy_seq=138356
October 9th, 2011, 11:14 pm
Dale Andersen said:
Memo To: Sheila
RE: “…I do not think it is fair to condemn the whole Muslim community for the acts of a few…”
Sure it is. We do it all the time.
You Syrians, for example, call ALL westerners imperialists and colonialists, even though the biggest and worst imperialistic violator in the Middle East in recent memory is Syria. You people treated poor Lebanon like it was a conquered colony. Oh wait, excuse me, it wasn’t ALL Syrians who were colonialists. Just the Baathists.
October 9th, 2011, 11:17 pm
jna said:
425. Dale Andersen
…the biggest and worst imperialistic violator in the Middle East in recent memory is Syria.
That’s interesting. What’s the US punishment and invasion of Iraq—a picnic? Get real.
October 9th, 2011, 11:42 pm
mick said:
Sheila,
There is a difference. Syria has no resources other than a few dribbles of oil. America is a large nation with global reach and vast resources.
Why do you condemn a poor nation for not giving everyone a high-quality of life when America can’t/won’t do it to its citizens. It has only been a small segment of our society that has benefited from being able to invade countries that have oil.
And the short quality of life America has has come with a massive pricetag. We will not be able to keep our society going with gigantic houses and millions of cars with the cost of energy increasing.
This coming shock will be a lot less to nations that never bought into the cheap energy solution to life.
October 9th, 2011, 11:45 pm
jad said:
Homs is a battle field:
اثار رصاص وقنابل ارهابيي حمص في كرم الزيتون
http://youtu.be/zDjQzdCn7eU
ارهابيون يستهدفون سيرفيس عمال شركة زيت فرزات
http://youtu.be/4IXH38gFgeo
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=283524615000613
October 9th, 2011, 11:54 pm
Darryl said:
417. TARA said:
An excellent Fatwa by Sheikha Tara. It certainly has more thought than the one by the Saudi religious authority who had to sweat while debating the Fatwa whether to declare Syrians killed in the uprising as Martyrs.
October 10th, 2011, 12:03 am
ann said:
Syria Seeks Arab Technical Help to Develop Banias Refinery
October 09, 2011
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-09/syria-seeks-arab-technical-help-to-develop-banias-refinery.html
Oct. 9 (Bloomberg) — Syria is seeking technical assistance from the Arab Petroleum Investments Corp. to develop its refinery in the port of Banias, the official Syrian Arab News Agency reported.
Oil Ministry officials met last week in Cairo with representatives of the inter-governmental Arab energy lender to discuss plans for a study of the project, the agency said, citing Syrian Oil Minister Sufian Alao.
The Banias refinery, operated by Sytrol, the state-run oil company, is Syria’s largest, with a crude-processing capacity of 133,000 barrels a day. It processed 3.24 million metric tons of crude in the first half of this year, according to an e-mailed statement from the ministry on Aug. 7.
October 10th, 2011, 12:04 am
ann said:
Syria releases prominent tribesman activists – 2011-10-09
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-10/09/c_131181586.htm
DAMASCUS, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) — A Syrian lawyer and human rights activist said the Syrian authorities released on Sunday Sheikh Nawaf al-Bashir, the head of the large Baqara tribe in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour and a prominent opponent of President Bashar al-Assad.
Khalil Matouq told Xinhua by phone that Nawaf was released after about 69 days without charges. Some media reports had claimed that Nawaf was killed in custody after being tortured, which turned out to be false.
To calm raging protests, the Syrian president has set free hundreds of political prisoners since the breakout of protests in mid-March.
Syrian Army troops entered Deir al-Zour on Aug. 8 for what the authorities said “hunting down armed groups that terrorized people and committed atrocities in the city,” and withdrew on Aug. 16.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem recently put the number of army officers and law-enforcement troops killed since the eruption of protests at 1,110, while a recent UN tally put the number of civilians killed at nearly 3,000.
October 10th, 2011, 12:12 am
ann said:
“Still Syria has no foreign debt, no budget deficit, it does not borrow to waste like Lebanon or other states in the EU.”
Norman I agree with what you’re saying about country’s very low foreign debt. But wait until NATO present the bill for destroying Syria on behalf of the cowardly Islamist terrorists.
October 10th, 2011, 1:08 am
ann said:
*** GET THEM A GOOD COACH! ***
Iran women footballers trounce Syria – Sun Oct 9, 2011
Iranian football players have trounced Syria in their last match of the preliminary round of the 4th West Asian Women’s Football Championship currently underway in the United Arab Emirates.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/203680.html
Iran’s national women football team, which had beat the host 4-1 in its second game on Thursday, defeated its Syrian rivals 4-1 at Sultan bin Zayed Stadium of Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Iran’s Zomorod Soleimani opened the score only 15 minutes after the game began. She hit another brace in the 32nd minute.
Nasimeh Gholami tripled Iran’s lead only one minute before the referee blew his whistle to signal the end of the first half.
Gholami put the ball into back of the net again just four minutes into the second half.
Amneh Al Shater scored Syria’s sole goal in the 66th minute.
Iran will play against Jordan on Monday in the semifinal match of the 4th West Asian Women’s Football Championship. Bahrain will face the UAE in another match earlier the same day.
The UAE hosts the 4th West Asian Women’s Football Championship, which opened on October 3 and runs to October 12.
October 10th, 2011, 1:21 am
ann said:
Palestine and western duplicity – Monday, October 10, 2011
Dr A Q Khan
http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=71701&Cat=9
After waiting for 44 years and trusting the hypocritical Western leaders, the Palestinians have had enough and their president, Mahmoud Abbas, decided to apply to the UN for the recognition of a Palestinian state. The request was submitted on Sept 23 and formally accepted by the secretary general the following day. A diplomatic storm broke out and the US and France openly opposed it. Other Western countries will probably join them at the time of voting. In 2009 President Obama gave a speech at Al-Azhar University in Cairo which was hailed by many as a milestone. He then went on to speak in Ankara. The purpose of that exercise was merely to take Muslims for a ride, pretending to be their friend and well-wisher. He has been saying all along that he is not an enemy of Islam, but the killing of millions of Muslims seems to be a different matter altogether.
On Sept 21, President Obama delivered a speech at the UN ridiculing the efforts of Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, by saying that he would get nothing through a UN resolution (the creation of Israel by a UN resolution was a different matter!), and that the Israelis and Palestinians should solve their disputes through the old mantra of negotiations.
The Western countries have turned Israel into a nuclear and missile power and equipped it with the latest aircraft and tanks. The Israelis can pulverise the combined armed forces of all the Arab countries within a week. On the other hand, it is as if the Palestinians were equipped with catapults and stones.
After the Second World War, all efforts of the Western countries have been directed at harming Islamic countries, Kashmir and Palestine being the two most notable cases. For them Kashmiris and Palestinians are not human beings (since they are Muslims) and hence don’t deserve any sympathy. The Palestinians, on the one hand, have been told that they are unfit and incapable of ruling themselves, even though they are one of the most advanced and educated people. On the other hand, the semi-naked head-hunters from Papua New Guinea and East Timor and the underdeveloped, illiterate South Sudanese are considered to be qualified for self-governance. Since they are Christians, Western leaders considered it a crusade to help them.
This same policy is being followed in Palestine. The Jews, who suffered so much at the hands of these so-called civilised Christians, who did not hesitate to call them dogs, are now perpetrating the worst atrocities on the Palestinians, who had nothing to do with the atrocities committed against them during World War II. The UN resolution of 1947 envisaged two states, Israel and Palestine. Israel exists and has usurped much of the land reserved for the Palestinians, but Western leaders, mostly born-again Christians, have no compunction to ask Israel to allow the Palestinians to live like human beings.
While the Jews were being persecuted in Christian countries, Turkey and other Islamic countries allowed them to live there as equal citizens. Turkey is a notable example here. The Arabs, including the Palestinians, were simple people and not aware of the intrigues and cunningness of the West and were consequently cheated by them. Let us have a quick glance at the historical background.
After many wars between the Crusaders and the Muslims, Salahuddin inflicted a humiliating defeat on the combined forces of England, France, Germany and other European countries. The treatment meted out to the wounded and captive Crusaders by Salahuddin is a golden chapter in the history of the Islamic World. Until World War I, things were more or less normal in Palestine but then Britain, as an occupying power, allowed thousands of Jews to come into Palestine and enabled them to buy and occupy large tracts of Palestinian land. Most of these Jews came from Europe. The Turkish caliph had forbidden the migration of Jews to Palestine and the purchase of land, but this changed with British occupation after World War I. Up to that time all Islamic countries, excepting Morocco and Mauritania, had been under Turkish rule. After World War I, the British occupied Iraq and Palestine and France occupied Syria and Lebanon.
At that time Muslims totally ignored the edicts of Allah that Muslims are brothers to each other and must solve all their differences through dialogue and consultation. The result is obvious. The Muslims were humiliated, lost sovereignty and became pariahs.
Their downfall in Spain, Central Asia and the Middle East was due to in-fighting and intrigues. The Arabs played a very dirty and treacherous game during World War I. Sharif Hussein of Mecca, the governor of Hijaz under the Turkish government, was one of the greatest traitors the Arab World has ever produced. He, his sons and some others joined the British to stab the Turks in the back. Col T E Lawrence of the British army was accepted as their leader and they attacked the Turkish army and destroyed the infrastructure on the (false) promise that, after the war, all Arab lands would be turned into an independent
Arab country. These scum of humanity attacked and murdered Turkish men, women and children in the Kaaba. They fired on the Kaaba and those in the forefront were Indian Muslim soldiers. Unfortunately, their descendants repeated the same abhorrent action by attacking Muslim women and children in Lal Masjid, killing almost 1,400 with phosphorous bombs.
The Arabs destroyed the most useful railway network between Turkey, Baghdad, Basra, Damascus and Medina. This network also joined Damascus with Beirut and Haifa. In 1919 the French army occupied Damascus, but the Arabs declared Syria to be an independent country and appointed Faisal, son of Sharif Hussein, as king. At that time Lebanon was a part of Syria. France separated the two and declared Lebanon an independent state. The reasoning was that it had a large Christian population, was very beautiful and highly fertile. Jordan was also a part of Syria. After removing King Faisal, the French appointed his brother, Abdullah bin Hussein, as the ruler of Jordan. He was a British stooge and immediately handed over the administration and control of the army to the British.
In 1947, when the British Mandate expired, the Jordanians started an armed struggle to prevent Jews from occupying their land. However, they were no match for the Israelis who had been armed to the teeth by the British and French and had about 25,000 highly trained soldiers from the recently ended World War. The Egyptian and Syrian armies also failed to make any gains while the British- trained Arab Legion under Gen John B Glubb (better known as Glubb Pasha) occupied the West Bank and Jerusalem.
October 10th, 2011, 1:28 am
ann said:
Humanitarian Imperialism
Using Human Rights to Sell War
http://monthlyreview.org/press/books/pb1471/
Since the end of the Cold War, the idea of human rights has been made into a justification for intervention by the world’s leading economic and military powers—above all, the United States—in countries that are vulnerable to their attacks. The criteria for such intervention have become more arbitrary and self-serving, and their form more destructive, from Yugoslavia to Afghanistan to Iraq. Until the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the large parts of the left was often complicit in this ideology of intervention-discovering new “Hitlers” as the need arose, and denouncing antiwar arguments as appeasement on the model of Munich in 1938.
Jean Bricmont’s Humanitarian Imperialism is both a historical account of this development and a powerful political and moral critique. It seeks to restore the critique of imperialism to its rightful place in the defense of human rights. It describes the leading role of the United States in initiating military and other interventions, but also on the obvious support given to it by European powers and NATO. It outlines an alternative approach to the question of human rights, based on the genuine recognition of the equal rights of people in poor and wealthy countries.
Timely, topical, and rigorously argued, Jean Bricmont’s book establishes a firm basis for resistance to global war with no end in sight.
October 10th, 2011, 1:58 am
ann said:
*** WOULD YOU TRUST THIS CLOWN! ***
We will not intervene in Syria – NATO chief – Sunday, October 9, 2011
http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=54049
Brussels, Asharq Al-Awsat – In an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat
from Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen spoke about NATO’s
ongoing role in Libya, as well as the developing situation in Syria, whilst
renewing calls for Saudi Arabia and other Arab Gulf states to partner with
NATO. Rasmussen is a former Prime Minister of Denmark, who was appointed
NATO chief in August 2009, and he has overseen NATO involvement in Iraq,
Afghanistan, and most recently Libya.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen
expressed his optimism with regards to the “Arab Spring”, adding that the
popular uprisings and revolutions that have taken place across the region
represent a “good opportunity” for NATO “to strengthen and renew our
relations with the region.” He also once again reiterated that NATO has no
intention of intervening in Syria.
The following is the full text of the interview:
[Asharq Al-Awsat] No specific date for the withdrawal of NATO forces from
Libya was put in place, following NATO’s meeting of defense ministers
earlier this week. What are the conditions that must be met for NATO to end
its operations in Libya?
[Rasmussen] Our presence in Libya will be determined by what is required by
necessity, and I believe that it is premature to talk about the end of the
[NATO] mission. We previously said that we had extended our operations in
Libya by 90 days; however at the same time we believe that it is necessary
to continuously review our operations. Withdrawal will occur as soon as
circumstances allow.
Our operations were primarily focused on the protection of civilians from
attack, and we will continue operating in this regard until security is
achieved [in Libya]. We will continue to carry out our mission until the
threats to the safety and security of [Libyan] civilians are dealt with.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Can you tell us a little about NATO’s relations with the
Libyan National Transitional Council [NTC] that is currently ruling the
country? Have they asked anything from NATO during this transitional period?
[Rasmussen] I met with [de facto Libyan Prime Minister] Dr. Mahmoud Jibril,
and NTC Chairman Mustafa Abdul-Jalil on a number of occasions in a
professional context in Istanbul, and later in a more personal context in
Libya. I want to confirm that our mission is to protect [Libyan] citizens
against attack via aerial and maritime operations within the framework of
international action. We are in constant contact with the NTC, and they have
visited us here at NATO headquarters.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] What are the reasons behind this communication? What are
the most important issues that you discuss with the NTC?
[Rasmussen] The most important reason for these talks is to monitor the
political developments in Libya, and allow me to reiterate: our mission is
to protect [Libyan] citizens from attack, it not part of our role to
intervene in what is happening in the country, but we are interested in
following the political developments.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Divisions and disputes have begun to appear within the
ranks of the Libyan rebels – particularly with regards to the formation of a
new government – do you believe that a civil war might break out in Libya?
[Rasmussen] I do not expect a civil war to break out in Libya, and I believe
that the NTC will play a major role in protecting Libyan unity, and working
with determination to achieve democracy, and this is very important.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] You have previously stressed that NATO will not intervene
in Syria. With the al-Assad regime continuing and indeed intensifying its
brutal crackdown against the Syrian protesters, is it possible that you will
change your position?
[Rasmussen] No, NATO will not intervene in Syria, but we strongly condemn
the al-Assad regime’s practices against the Syrian protesters, and I call on
this regime to stop such actions and meet the legitimate demands of the
Syrian people, and implement democracy.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] What is your opinion of the future of the Arab world
following the Arab Spring?
[Rasmussen] I am very optimistic; I believe that freedom is the most
important force in the world, because it paves the way for creative thinking
and putting forward a practical framework for economic developments, as well
as the creation of a stable society. As for political freedom, this is the
most important means to ensure security, whilst political stability
guarantees general peace and stability.
I think that with the Arab awakening, we will see the region flourishing in
the coming years. Although the people will face many challenges, I believe
that their strong desire for freedom and democracy will allow them to
overcome all difficulties in this regard.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] We heard that the United Arab Emirates [UAE] is set to be
the first Arab country to send an ambassador to NATO. Would you like to see
more Arab or Gulf countries following the UAE in this regard, or joining
NATO organizations and initiatives?
[Rasmussen] Yes, I believe that the “Arab Spring” is a good opportunity [for
NATO] to strengthen and renew our relations with the [Middle East] region
and I believe that Arab states have positively contributed to the NATO
“Unified Protector” operation in Libya. A part of our new policy is to let
our partners join us by establishing ambassadors to NATO. Some of them have
responded to this and made formal requests, and we appreciate this.
The UAE was one of those who responded to this initiative. We also have two
organizations. There is the “Mediterranean Dialogue” which is made up of 7
countries from the Middle East and North Africa. Whilst the second
organization [Istanbul Cooperative Initiative] was established in Istanbul
in 2004 and is made up of 4 Gulf states, namely Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and
Bahrain. I believe that a democratic Libya can easily join the Mediterranean
Dialogue, and thereby become one of our partners. This is an example of how
relations can develop.
We also call on all other Gulf States, and renew our calls for Saudi Arabia,
to join our partners.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] There have been calls from Europe to halt all forms of
dialogue with Iran under the pretext that Tehran is not fulfilling some of
its international obligations. What is NATO’s position towards Iran?
[Rasmussen] We, in NATO, have nothing to do with Iranian affairs. However
some NATO members are dealing with Iranian affairs in a unilateral manner.
We support diplomatic efforts to reach a solution regarding the problems
with Iran, and we call on Tehran to comply with its international
obligations.
October 10th, 2011, 2:13 am
ann said:
Michel Kilo has recently taken strong public stances against armed revolt and sectarianism, ideas which have received some support in certain circles. He writes that armed revolt “will lead to a battle that will be won by the side with more weapons, the side that is willing to use the most force. If weapons are used, then the struggle for rights will turn into bloody barbarism with no aim beyond killing the other.”
Kilo is still staunchly opposed to any sectarian tendency within the country: “should it win out, God forbid, popular mobilization will change fundamentally, resulting in a transformation of its aims and its support base, and it will play a big role in the nation’s deterioration.” According to Kilo, the Syrian struggle is not currently nor should it ever become religious or sectarian. “Syria wants freedom, and whoever diverts her from that shared goal betrays her, squandering her sacrifices and her opportunities, no matter what the rationale.”
Kilo is also ambivalent toward the conferences organized by the opposition abroad. He sees them as “a foolish race to establish competing organizations, revolutionary leadership councils, and liberation fronts, while the situation on the ground is full of difficulties and challenges.” Contrary to several voices that have welcomed the Syrian National Council in Istanbul, Kilo insists that the activists within Syria “do not intend to join the Syrian National Council, because this organization was created based on the idea of foreign intervention.”
October 10th, 2011, 2:19 am
jad said:
Louai Hussein shares kilo position about the necessity of the NONVIOLENCE movement, it seems that all the domestic opposition are together on that, please read Louai words in his good bye message to Meshaal Tammo:
أعاهدكم جميعا أنني سأحافظ على سلمية نضالنا، ولن نتوسل العنف سبيلا أبدا ومطلقا.
أعاهدكم جميعا أنني سأحافظ على سلمية نضالنا، ولن نتوسل العنف سبيلا أبدا ومطلقا.
أعاهدكم جميعا أنني سأحافظ على سلمية نضالنا، ولن نتوسل العنف سبيلا أبدا ومطلقا.
أعاهدكم جميعا أنني سأحافظ على سلمية نضالنا، ولن نتوسل العنف سبيلا أبدا ومطلقا.
لن أبكيك يا مشعل
by Louay Hussein
مشعل التمو شهيدا، وجوان أيّو معتقلا، ومنصور المنصور لاجئا، وخالد وسعد وجهاد مشردين في أقاصي الأرض، هؤلاء وغيرهم من أصدقائي الذين انتزعتهم السلطة من أحشائي لتنتقم من شعب يريد أن يبني حياته ومعاشه على هواه وبإرادته الحرة.
أصدقائي الأموات منكم والأحياء، المعتقلين والمشردين واللاجئين، جميعكم يعرف أننا لن نتراجع عما بدأتموه وضحيتم من أجله بسلامتكم وأرواحكم. وأعاهدكم جميعا أنني سأحافظ على سلمية نضالنا، ولن نتوسل العنف سبيلا أبدا ومطلقا. وأكرر عهدي لكم ولشعبي: أموت ولا أساوم على حقوقكم.
يا مشعل ياحبيبي، ويا جميعكم لن أبكيكم قبل أن نظفر بحرياتنا وحقوقنا التي ضحيتم من أجلها، مع أني اشتقت إليكم شوقي لحريتي المسلوبة طيلة عمري.
he later explained his accusation of the regime by this:
من جانبه قال المعارض السوري لؤي حسين عضو تيار بناء الدولة السورية” ان السلطة مسؤولة عن حادثة اغتيال المناضل السوري مشعل التمو, ضمن مسؤوليتها عن تردي الأوضاع الأمنية في البلاد لدرجة الانفلات الأمني”
October 10th, 2011, 2:33 am
Dale Andersen said:
Memo To: JNA
RE: “…That’s interesting. What’s the US punishment and invasion of Iraq—a picnic? Get real…”
You get real, JNA. The US voluntarily leaves when the job is done. The Syrians had to be forced out of Lebanon by patriotic Lebanese. Remember Prime Minister Hariri, whom you murdered? Of course, the Syrians left behind Hizbollah, their collaborators, enforcers and thugs, just in case they have the opportunity to recover their colony.
Sadly enough, or rather predictably enough, Syria never apologized to Labanon.
October 10th, 2011, 2:58 am
annie said:
Saturday’s deadly harvest :
The Syrian Days Of Rage – English
Martyrs: #Syria: Saturday of Mesha’al Tammo: 10.08.2011
Damascus Suburb:
1) Ameen Yaseen Khbieh
2) Iyad Al-Mubayyed
3) Abdulkareem Mahjoob
4) Mohammed Al-Sayegh
Hama:
5) Jihad Wasel Al-Hussein
6) Ma’amoon Fayez Al-Hussein
7) Abdulmu’een Al-Sarraj Abou Rammah
Idlib:
8) Salah Te’meh
9) Khaldoon Mohammed Yaseen
Al-Qamishli:
10) Ismail Abdulaziz Haji
11) Fahed Juma’a
12) Jamal Al-Omar
13) Mohammed Saleh Abdi
14) Jamal Hussein Hussein
15) Ismail Abdulaziz
16) Mohammed Fawwaz
Homs
17) Abdulmun’em Ahmed Al-Kaft
18) Abdulnaser Salim Al-Jandali
19) Talal Al-Turjman
20) Abdulnaser Salim Al-Nakdalli
Que la terre vous soit légère; may the earth be light on you. Love
October 10th, 2011, 3:29 am
ann said:
*** LOOK AT THE BEARD ON THIS AL QAEDA ISLAMIST TERRORIST MONSTER KILLER ***
Syria: Terrorist Hamadi Confesses to Murdering Protestors and Passengers – 2011/10/10
Terrorist Ali Mohammad Hamadi on Sunday confessed to murdering protestors and civilians including all the passengers of a bus coming from Lebanon with the intent of framing security forces.
http://abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&id=270868
Terrorist Ali Mohammad Hamadi on Sunday confessed to murdering protestors and civilians including all the passengers of a bus coming from Lebanon with the intent of framing security forces.
In televised confessions broadcast by the Syrian TV, Hamadi said that he and a man named Rateb Abdelkader Alawiye had plotted smuggling of fuel, and under that pretense he accompanied Alawiye and met Fahed Fallaha.
Hamadi said that Alawiye and Fallaha were using a Skoda Octavia and wore military uniform, and that upon joining them they gave him a pump-action shotgun, while they themselves carried a shotgun and a machinegun.
He said that they drove near a location containing protestors in Bab Amro area in Homs and opened fire on them, killing 13 and injuring 7, and upon inquiring about the reason behind this act he was told by Alawiye that it was meant to incite people against security forces and blaming them for the crime. Hamadi was paid 500 Pounds for his involvement and was told that they would go out again on the next day.
“We went out thinking that there was a protest but we didn’t find any… we waited for protestors for two days but they never came out to protest,” he said, adding that at a later time Alawiye offered to let him lead an armed group and he grouped.
Alawiye put him in charge of seven gunmen carrying rifles including AK-47s and pump-action shotguns.
Hamadi said that they went out on a Friday in search of a large protest but didn’t see any and decided to split into two groups to attack a military checkpoint, with one group circling through fields and the other heading towards the highway.
“When I heard the first shot, I emerged with my group and opened fire… Alawiye opened fire from his machine gun and killed 10 or 12,” he said.
Hamadi said that two days later Alawiye recruited him for an operation in Telkalakh, and on the way Alawiye received a message. When Hamadi inquired about it, Alawiye told him to mind his own business and that he just had to take his money and be silent.
He said that they stopped at an intersection and were told by Alawiye that a white bus with Idleb number plates was coming, adding that both Alawiye and Fallaha were wearing military uniforms. The two told the rest to stay put and open fire at the buss when the first shot is fired.
“We did what he asked… after shooting the bus it stopped 150 meters away… Alawiye went there fired more than a hundred rounds from his machinegun at the buss and the people in it then came back,” Hamadi said, adding that Alawiye came back to them and reported all the bus passengers dead.
He concluded by pointing out that Alawiye used to smuggle fuel from Syria to Lebanon, and that he received with 10 to 15 thousand pounds from him.
October 10th, 2011, 4:04 am
Samara said:
Is there a Saudi Arabian Women’s Soccer team?
October 10th, 2011, 4:40 am
OFF THE WALL said:
Dear SAMARA,
At first i though what a silly question, but then on second thought I realized that it is a really good question considering that some imbecile Imams in KSA have already issued fatwas that sport is not a place for women and that it encourages them to become prostitutes, which is not only crazy, but also a vulgar fatwa.
I am happy that SAMARA has asked the question, otherwise, I would not have even looked it up. Here is the result: First female soccer match played in Saudi Arabia
So, there are school teams, but there is no National team yet. It seems that it would come later but only if the other teams agree on strict condition for the game (no men allowed). To begin with, this may sound crazy to you and me, but again if you do what I just did, and re-consider before passing judgement, it would seem that any progress that ensures greater margin for women in KSA is a welcomed progress despite of it being an anemic one. We will not settle for it, but it is a sign of possible progress (not yet progress).
October 10th, 2011, 6:16 am
Samara said:
Dear OFF THE WALL,
I am glad that women are actually starting to liberate themselves slowly slowly in SA.The whole idea of them being encouraged to be prostitutes is an absolute degradation on women in general.One thing is certain, women in Syria can play soccer etc, and not have to worry about such humiliating portrayals of them. Wow, they seem very simmilar to us in the Western wold. I was on my school soccer teams since the 5th grade all through to the 12th grade. (not to blow my own whistle, but i am pretty damn good at soccer).
Anyhoo, here’s to gendered equality.
October 10th, 2011, 6:30 am
uzair8 said:
Buthaina Shaaban:
“But the Almighty Allah shows them what they are doing. Thanks to Allah, the truth speaks for itself every day.”
October 10th, 2011, 6:36 am
uzair8 said:
Egypt religious leaders to hold crisis talks
Monday, 10 October 2011
Egypt’s top Muslim official has called for emergency talks on Monday between Muslim and Christian leaders, after the deadliest violence since president Hosni Mubarak’s fall left 24 people dead, state television said.
Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed al-Tayyeb, who heads Sunni Islam’s highest seat of learning, has called for talks with members of the Egyptian Family — an organization that groups Muslim and Christian clerics — “in a bid to contain the crisis,” the television said.
Tayyeb has also been in contact with Coptic Pope Shenuda III, it added.
Tayyeb’s call comes just hours after clashes in central Cairo that left 24 people, mostly Coptic Christians, dead and more than 200 wounded.
The clashes broke out during a demonstration in the Maspero district on the Nile, where Coptic demonstrators were protesting against a recent attack on a church in the southern Egyptian city of Aswan.
Read more:
http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/10/10/171059.html
October 10th, 2011, 6:48 am
OFF THE WALL said:
Dear SAMARA
There is nothing wrong in blowing your own whistle if you are pretty damn good at soccer. It is delightful to hear that.
Anyhoo, here’s to gender equality.
Sure thing, count me in. But i think we still have very long way to go, especially in civil status laws in Syria. Even in advanced countries there is still much to be done within the corporate world. I do not know how is it in Australia, but in the US, there are still some glass ceilings that need to be shattered more often. TARA and SHIELA could probably say more about that and correct me If I am wrong.
October 10th, 2011, 6:54 am
uzair8 said:
The time of ‘peace’ is about to end … Beware of the weapons!
By Michel Kilo
Monday, 10 October 2011
[Selected quotes]
In the beginning, the security option was intended to achieve two objectives: eradicate the civilian character of the social movement and push it to acquire a religious tone and turn it into a violent movement easy to squash, since the public will step back and stay home, fearing violence.
But this is unlikely to happen. First, because the number of the pursued, hounded, killed and detained from both civil and social communities is united in their will, knowing that their agreement on patriotism, freedom, civil rights, and democracy was not transient, but a great opportunity to renew the Arab political and social resurgence project.
…….
But the official party is ignoring that it will face a different kind of conflict in the second stage: an armed conflict. It is failing to acknowledge that it will not enjoy the same freedom of movement as it did in the first stage of the conflict. In fact, the official party will move under direct fire and will not only face armed individuals, but rather massive agglomerations of citizens who were mercilessly oppressed and killed and who will fiercely fight, without any pity.
………
If you listen to the stories in the Syrian remote areas and in the cities and provinces of Hama, Deir Al Zor, Edleb, Homs, Daraa and rural Aleppo, you will understand that the time of peace is about to end in Syria and that henceforth the language of war will prevail.
http://english.alarabiya.net/views/2011/10/10/171062.html
October 10th, 2011, 6:58 am
Akbar Palace said:
How’s about heading to East St. Louis and talk to the folks there about how America cares for its citizens. Or Oakland. Or Detroit. Or the South Side of Chicago. Or the ninth ward in New Orleans. These people have no voice in society. Try getting past the corporate lobbyists in DC to get your voice heard. The scientific community with solid evidence of global warming can’t.
Mick,
“These people” surely have a voice. How do you think Obama got elected? Moreover, the US government via Medicare and Medicaid are basically spending trillions of dollars to take care of “these people” cradle to grave.
Those are the facts.
The next question is, can we afford it considering the rising debt from about 10 to 14 trillion dollars since Obama has been in office. Half the working population in the US pays taxes, half do not. The top 5% off wage earners pay about 30% of all tax revenues. And Obama claims the rich do not pay their “fair share”.
Somehow, people have been accustomed to not work and collect unemployment. The democrats promote this by the poor vote and all these “entitlements”. Working class Americans can not afford this any longer. The US has to get smaller and more efficient, and able-body Americans will have to fend for themselves. Rich people creat jobs, not the other way around.
The next president, hopefully, will understand this.
As far as global warming is concerned, despite what you may have heard from 873 or not, humans cannot control the weather. Whether is is global warming or an ice age, we will only be spectators.
October 10th, 2011, 7:15 am
Akbar Palace said:
You Know It Don’t Come Easy
Nearly 3000 dead since demonstrations began in Syria. This is more than the recent Gaza and Lebanon wars combined.
Also, it looks like the Egyptian military junta is using Christians as an excuse not to move forward with elections and democracy. What a surprise. The old “foreign” intervention and “hidden hands” excuse is rearing its familiar head…
“These events have taken us back several steps,” he said. “Instead of moving forward to build a modern state on democratic principles we are back to seeking stability and searching for hidden hands — domestic and foreign — that meddle with the country’s security and safety.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15238827
October 10th, 2011, 7:24 am
Samara said:
Dear OFF THE WALL,
Thanks :). And you are right about gendered equality in the corporate world. Even in Australia, it is very difficult for a women to make it in the legal field, especially to practice as a barrister (that it the path I hope to take, so unfortunately it will be pretty difficult), and in other male dominated fields. I bet in the US it is the same. It is sad to see such inequality in modern times.
Hopefully changes will come soon, in all parts of the world; a more equal world is one that should be aspired to by all nations.
Good night, got an early start tomorrow.
October 10th, 2011, 8:15 am
sheila said:
To #427. Mick,
I was not trying to compare Syria to the US. All I was trying to say is this simple fact:
If Syria was ruled by a government that cared about the country and the people, Syria would have been in much better shape than it is today.
Plain and simple. Do you agree?.
October 10th, 2011, 8:24 am
sheila said:
To #425. Dale Andersen,
You said:
Memo To: Sheila
“RE: “…I do not think it is fair to condemn the whole Muslim community for the acts of a few…”
Sure it is. We do it all the time.
You Syrians, for example, call ALL westerners imperialists and colonialists, even though the biggest and worst imperialistic violator in the Middle East in recent memory is Syria. You people treated poor Lebanon like it was a conquered colony. Oh wait, excuse me, it wasn’t ALL Syrians who were colonialists. Just the Baathists”.
Not withstanding that it was some Lebanese who called the Syrian army into Lebanon to come to their rescue, as a Syrian citizen, I am appalled at what the Syrian army did in Lebanon, but I had no control over it. Most Lebanese who have basic human intelligence realize this and distinguish between the Syrian people and the Syrian government. Look what the Syrian government is doing to the Syrian people today.
Here is stereotyping 101:
The fact that some Lebanese Christians collaborated with Israel, does not make all Lebanese Christians traitors.
The fact that most criminals in the US are black, does not make all blacks criminals.
The fact that 19 Muslims committed an act of terrorism killing innocent civilians, does not make all Muslims terrorist.
The fact that some idiots who happen to be Muslim burned a church in Egypt, does not make all Muslim Egyptians criminals.
October 10th, 2011, 8:38 am
OFF THE WAKL said:
Dear SAMARA
You may get to read this tomorrow your time. But here is how I think about it.
1. An Arab-Australian Woman Barrister–> Go for it, make us all proud
2. One of the most important characteristics of good attorneys (Barristers) is not to be intimidated by the age, social status, or any other factor that may give their adversaries an advantage against them. I have argued with you, so did others, and you have never been intimidated. I believe you will make an outstanding litigator. Again –> Go for it and make us all proud.
Good luck. And look forward chatting with you again.
October 10th, 2011, 8:44 am
OFF THE WALL said:
Dear SAMARA
You may get to read this tomorrow your time. But here is how I think about it.
1. An Arab-Australian Woman Barrister–> Go for it, make us all proud
2. One of the most important characteristics of good attorneys (Barristers) is not to be intimidated by the age, social status, or any other factor that may give their adversaries an advantage against them. I have argued with you, so did others, and you have never been intimidated. I believe you will make an outstanding litigator. Again –> Go for it and make us all proud.
Good luck. And look forward chatting with you again.
October 10th, 2011, 8:46 am
majedkhaldoun said:
Defending Hassoun, then said he is against what Hassoun said.
This is clear contradiction, to say he is against what Hassoun said,was mentioned only because he lives in USA and afraid of FBI.
There is no justification for defending what Hassoun said, he ,Hassoun,said we will send suicide bomber to terrorize Europe and USA,this is terrorizing civilians,it has nothing to do with arming people to defend themselves in their homes and their communities.
It sure is hard to understand the logic of pro regime, they have twisted rational..
To blame Turkey on the assasination of Mishaal Tammo,is more ridiculous than ever, it comes from supporters of the regime,,Mr Tammo was in jail ,in Syrian jail, and his speech was against the regime,and he was a member of the SNC,please any one intelligent would blame Turkey,and say Syrian regime is innocent?
He quotes the story about Zainab,does he understand that the regime deliver a body of a woman ,who was killed and cut to pieces,the regime claimed she was Zainab,what difference if her name is Zainab or some other name,still there was crime by the regime,to a woman we dont know her name,do you still do not believe that the regime is committing crimes?.
Those who cover the regime crimes are accomplices to the regime.
October 10th, 2011, 8:52 am
zoo said:
Russia’s Syria game
Seeking advantage after Assad
By Amir Taheri
A few weeks ago, a senior Russian official assured me that his government wouldn’t block “a strong resolution” in support of the uprising in Syria. Yet Russia this month vetoed a fairly mild UN Security Council resolution.
But then Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov invited the Syrian opposition to Moscow, implying that President Bashar al-Assad was no longer an exclusive interlocutor. And just 48 hours after the veto, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called on Assad to either reform or step aside.
Why is Russia behaving like an erratic banana republic rather than a mature power dealing with a threat to regional peace?
Apple of the bear’s eye: Russia wants to secure a berth in Syria’s port of Tartus to replace its warm-water port in Ukraine’s Sevastopol.
Apple of the bear’s eye: Russia wants to secure a berth in Syria’s port of Tartus to replace its warm-water port in Ukraine’s Sevastopol.
Start with the back story. Just 15 years after it was put on the map as an independent country, Syria chose the Soviet Union — Russia — as its principal protector. Over the years, that dependence developed into the backbone of Syrian national strategy. Even in the 1970s, when then-President Hafez al-Assad served US interests by crushing the left both within Syria and in Lebanon and making sure that Israel was no longer threatened, Damascus maintained close ties with Moscow.
With the end of the Cold War, Russia lost interest in Syria and other Arab military regimes. But events may be resurrecting some of that interest.
Vladimir Putin’s return as president signals Russia’s return to a more aggressive anti-West posture, scraping off the veneer of diplomatic politesse provided by Medvedev. Putin thinks that America is in decline and that Russia can make a comeback as a “superpower,” at least in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
And in the Middle East, Russia has no friend except Syria. Iranian mullahs may be tactical allies when it comes to thumbing noses at America, but they won’t play second fiddle to Putin — they fancy their own regime as the Middle East’s “superpower.”
Putin knows that Assad is doomed. But he wants to ensure that Russia has a say in choosing his successor. The emergence of a string of pro-West regimes from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean could shut Russia out of what Putin regards as part of its rightful zone of influence.
Another factor: The Russian lease on the Crimean port of Sevastopol runs out in 2017 and can’t be extended without Ukraine’s accord. Sevastopol is Russia’s largest naval base and its lifeline to maintaining a blue-water navy via the Black Sea, the Dardanelles and the Mediterranean. Losing the base would leave Russia a virtually landlocked country. Its enclave of Kaliningrad can never be developed into a major naval asset, while the Siberian coast in the far east is hard to resupply.
By 2017, Ukraine may well be a member of both the European Union and NATO — and it would be odd indeed for a NATO member to host Russia’s biggest military bases.
So Moscow has been seeking an alternative to Sevastapol for the last decade. Russian strategists believe they’ve found it on Syria’s Mediterranean coast.
In 2002, Moscow and Damascus held preliminary talks on the subject. Initially, the idea was to transform the Syrian port of Tartus into an all-purpose aerial/naval base for both nations’ use. But European investment in the years since has turned Tartus into Syria’s major commercial port, ahead of Latakia. Then, too, the area’s population is largely “mainline” Muslims, who might resent the decision by a minority Alawite regime to offer bases to foreign powers.
There is also the Iran factor. As the chief supporter of the Assad regime, the Islamic Republic demands facilities for its own navy. In February, an Iranian flotilla visited Syria for the first time ever, amid reports that “mooring facilities” would be built to host a permanent presence.
Russia knows enough about the region to know that the Assad regime won’t stand much longer. This is why Putin is looking for a “median” solution: a new Syrian regime in which Moscow’s friends, meaning elements of the Assad regime, would have a place strong enough to offer the Russian navy an outlet when, and if, Ukraine throws it out.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/russia_syria_game_voe96d5WkBego04e6l1NRP#ixzz1aNp0alpY
October 10th, 2011, 8:58 am
irritated said:
Sheila #452
Can you give me an example of an Arab government that cares about the country and the people (aside from the rich Gulf countries who have more expats that citizens)?
October 10th, 2011, 9:03 am
zoo said:
A chance for rare leadership in Syria’s morass
National Editorial
Oct 10, 2011
Syrian opposition groups stand at a crucial crossroads. The killing of the opposition figure Meshaal Tammo at the weekend, followed by the brazen slaughter of his mourners by state security forces, all but ensures that calls for revenge – and not for negotiation – will grow louder.
But while more violence is one possible road for opposition forces, it is not the only one.
If the regime’s senseless acts galvanise Kurdish and other factions, Syria’s troubles could spiral. Yet there is still time for strong leadership, and opposition groups have a rare opportunity to deliver.
With growing sophistication, opposition forces are coalescing into a coherent, organised entity. Two of the major blocs, the Syrian National Council and the National Board of Coordination, are now working together to gain international recognition, as The National reports today.
There are signs that these figures, once on the margins, are coordinating with external opponents of the Assad regime. And members of the NBC met Chinese officials in Damascus on Saturday in a bid to garner support for tougher anti-regime sanctions at the UN Security Council.
So far the Syrian opposition, in its many guises, has continued to carry out peaceful demonstrations, but that could change. The killing of Mr Tammo “is a very painful and dangerous development in the political struggle in this country”, said Abdul Aziz Al Kheyr, a former political prisoner who is now helping to orchestrate a coalition of peaceful dissidents inside Syria.
Mr Al Assad had a brief window of opportunity to enact meaningful political and social reforms that could have averted this current stalemate. That opportunity vanished as soon as Syria’s hated security forces, police and army turned their guns on their own people. Like others before him, Mr Al Assad failed to see that repression is no longer an effective deterrent.
The emboldened Syrian opposition may yet be dragged into armed conflict by the regime’s oppressive tactics. For now, the ruling Baath party continues to garner support from Moscow and Beijing, two pillars of its continued control. But even Russian President Dmitry Medvedev acknowledged on Friday that Mr Al Assad is finished if he fails to reform. And given Mr Al Assad’s track record, it seems this regime is living on borrowed time.
http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/editorial/a-chance-for-rare-leadership-in-syrias-morass
October 10th, 2011, 9:09 am
annie said:
A firsthand account: Marching from Shubra to deaths at Maspiro
The march from the Cairo district of Shubra was huge, like the numbers on 28 January. In the front row was a group of men in long white bibs, “martyr upon demand” written on their chests. A tiny old lady walked among them, waving a large wooden cross: “God protect you my children, God protect you.”
http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/503496
(from Rime Allaf fb)
October 10th, 2011, 9:34 am
ghufran said:
taking Iran backward
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/actress-marzieh-vafamehr-faces-a-flogging-iranian-anger-over-aussie-film/story-e6freuy9-1226163405101
October 10th, 2011, 9:34 am
Shami said:
Norman ,
The backward socialist economies in general do not produce big debts the reason is among other things ,the apriori economic planning,this is the case of North Korea and in the past the closed socialist economies in eastern Europe such as the Albania of Enver Hoja which was the most backward economy and the poorest country in Europe.
In general ,advanced economies can hardly avoid huge public debts.
October 10th, 2011, 9:40 am
Husam said:
Re: Coptic Church Burned….
Is it possible that someone from outside co-opted the burning down of the church to further bring instability to the already torn country. They replaced 1 mafia boss for 4 generals.
This a classical divide & conquer, they did this with Sunni vs. Shia in Iraq.
In the End: cui-bono?
October 10th, 2011, 9:44 am
Shami said:
Ghufran,your link on the mahdist theocracy could make angry the qardahi minority here.
October 10th, 2011, 9:45 am
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Isn’t it ironic that the Syrian army, which planned to adopt HA Guerrilla tactics to fight Israel, now will face Guerrilla tactics against itself?
The ME was full of antinomies, that now blow in the Arab pretty faces.
.
October 10th, 2011, 9:49 am
Revlon said:
لواء الضباط الأحرار يلقون القبض على المقدم سامر عبد الكريم المقرب من بشار ويطالبون بمبادلته بالأسير حسين الهرموش
2011/10/10
http://www.sooryoon.net/?p=35069
سوريون نت:
قال اتحاد تنسيقيات الثورة السورية إن لواء الضباط الأحرا قد ألقى القبض على المقدم سامر عبد الكريم وهو الان بيد الضباط الاحرار الوطنيين وشدد الاتحاد على أن المفاوضات لازالت مستمرة منذ خمسة ايام لمبادلة المقدم حسين الهرموش بالطيار المجرم الذي سجلت اعترافاتة واجرامه، ووعد الاتحاد نقلا عن لواء الضباط الأحرار بأن نتائج الاعترافات ستعلن قريبا.
وعلم سوريون نت أن المقدم الطيار قد اعتقل وهو يطلق النار من مسدسه على المظاهرة، وحمل لواء الضباط الأحرار مسؤولية حياة المقدم لبشار الأسد بالقبول بمبادلته وإلا فإنه سيحاكم ميدانيا.
October 10th, 2011, 10:00 am
Revlon said:
Syrian colonel plots guerrilla attacks against Assad regime
Leader of rebel army formed by military defectors is protected by Turkey
By Justin Vela in Istanbul
Monday, 10 October 2011
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syrian-colonel-plots-guerrilla-attacks-against-assad-regime-2368122.html
The most senior officer to defect from Syria’s armed forces is plotting a series of guerrilla attacks and targeted assassinations from self-imposed exile in Turkey in an attempt to topple the regime.
Colonel Riad al-As’aad, 50, is the head of a newly formed Syrian Free Army – a force made up of defectors from the Syrian military – devoted to overthrowing the regime of Bashar al-Assad by military force in apparent connivance with his Turkish protectors. “They [the regime] forced us to respond,” he told The Independent. “We are organised inside. We are soldiers, we are working. Our power is slowly growing.”
Colonel As’aad said that he co-ordinates daily with officers on the ground through intermediaries moving between Syria and Turkey.
The opposition has formed a new umbrella organisation, the Syrian National Council, announced last week in Turkey, which includes most major opposition groups. Syria yesterday said that it would take “tough measures” against any country that recognised the body as the country’s rightful authority.
Colonel As’aad lives under constant guard by Turkish security officials in Turkey’s Htay province. The colonel, who served as an engineer in the air force for 31 years, claims that his strategy is based on guerrilla attacks and assassinations of security force figures and state-sponsored militia amid signs of growing armed resistance against the regime after months of protests.
However, he denied being responsible for attacks on civilian figures considered close to the regime, such as the son of Syria’s Grand Mufti who was killed last week in an ambush. Instead, he blamed such attacks on the government, accusing them of trying to provoke sectarian conflict.
He said 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers had defected from the approximately 200,000-strong Syrian military and said he was hoping to relocate his command into Syria soon to lead those who had stayed to fight against the regime. He claims that morale among the Syrian armed forces is low and that defections will increase in the coming weeks.
“Without a war, he will not fall. Whoever leads with force, cannot be removed except by force,” he told Reuters news agency. “The regime used a lot of oppressive and murderous tactics so I left, so that I will be the face outside for the command inside, because we have to be in a secure area and right now there is no safety in all of Syria.”
October 10th, 2011, 10:12 am
Revlon said:
Will Jr’s threat of revenge be in 6 hours or with 6 eggs!
2011/10/10
طارق الحميد : المعلم.. 6 بيضات أم ساعات؟
حذر النظام الأسدي على لسان وزير خارجية النظام وليد المعلم من أنه سيتخذ «إجراءات مشددة» ضد الدول التي ستعترف بالمجلس الوطني السوري المعارض، الذي تم الإعلان عنه مؤخرا من اسطنبول، والسؤال هو: ما هي هذه الإجراءات المشددة؟
فهل تقوم دمشق، مثلا، بحظر بيع أسلحتها المتطورة لأوروبا، أو تقوم بعملية تعويم للاقتصاد التركي، وتسقط أردوغان بالضربة القاضية، أم يعمد النظام الأسدي لجلب بوارجه المنتشرة بالبحار والمحيطات ليعطل الممرات المائية الحيوية؟، أمر مثير للسخرية حقا، كما أنه تصريح غريب من المعلم، ولا يقل غرابة عن تصريحه الشهير عن محو أوروبا من الخارطة!
وقد يقول البعض إن النظام الأسدي سيقوم بقطع علاقاته، مثلا، مع الدول التي تعترف بالمجلس الوطني السوري، وهذا أمر مشكوك فيه، فرغم العقوبات الأوروبية، والأميركية بالطبع، وحتى العقوبات المعلنة، أو المزمع إعلانها، من قبل تركيا، ناهيك عن كل التصريحات الشديدة ضد النظام الأسدي ورموزه، فإن النظام لم يقم بقطع علاقاته، أو حتى سحب سفرائه، من تلك الدول! وهذا ليس كل شيء، فحتى السفراء الغربيون، الأميركي والفرنسي والبريطاني، بدمشق والذين قاموا بالتعبير عن آرائهم ضد النظام الأسدي، وبشكل غير مسبوق، وأعلنوا تأييدهم للثورة السورية، وانبروا مفندين لدعائية الإعلام الأسدي، لم يتخذ بحقهم أي إجراءات جدية، حيث دافعوا، أي السفراء، عن الثورة والثوار، وتحركوا بحرية في دمشق، مع أنه سبق لخارجية النظام الأسدي أن قالت بأنه قد تم تحديد مدى محدد لا يحق للسفراء الغربيين التحرك خارجه، ورغم ذلك فهم مستمرون فيما يقومون به، ولم يطلب منهم، أي السفراء، مغادرة الأراضي السورية، بل كانت عقوبتهم المغلظة هي إلقاء البيض والطماطم عليهم، حتى إن إحدى الصحف السورية الرسمية توعدتهم بمزيد من البيض والطماطم بحال لم يتوقفوا، أي السفراء، عن دعم الثورة!
وعليه، فهل تكون الإجراءات المشددة التي توعد بها وليد المعلم الدول التي ستعترف بالمجلس الوطني السوري هي مثل عقوبة السفراء الغربيين؛ البيض والطماطم؟ أم أن المعلم يبني على ما تسرب عبر وكالة الأنباء الإيرانية من أنه بمقدور الأسد إحراق المنطقة في 6 ساعات بحال تم استهداف نظامه؟ ومجرد الاعتراف بالمجلس الوطني السوري يعني بلا شك عملا خطيرا بحق النظام الأسدي، وإن كان المجتمع الدولي قد قال مرارا وتكرارا بأن شرعية النظام قد سقطت، والأهم من ذلك أن السوريين أنفسهم قالوها، ويقولونها، على مدى سبعة أشهر من عمر الثورة.
صحيح أن النظام الأسدي قد نفى الخبر الإيراني الخاص بإحراق المنطقة بـ6 ساعات، لكنها لعبة إعلامية ليست بالجديدة على منطقتنا، وعليه فإن السؤال اليوم، وبعد أن قرر المعلم محو أوروبا من الخارطة، واليوم يهدد بإجراءات مشددة بحق كل من يعترف بالمجلس الوطني السوري: ما هي نوعية العقوبة التي ستطال المعترفين، هل هي بيض وطماطم، أم أنها جزء من مخطط الـ6 ساعات لإشعال المنطقة؟
سنعرف الإجابة قريبا، ومع توالي الاعترافات بالمجلس الوطني السوري.
October 10th, 2011, 10:18 am
Syrian Nationalist Party said:
Soooooooooooo, when was it the first day of Egypt revolution? ugghh, GOOD MORNING, sorry I am a bit slow. Help me, I need to mark this on my schedule, will give them 1- 1.5 years for the phase II. Remember this thing was suppose to be 2 steps revolution, the first step is when the dummies and Soros’s act and the second step is when Egyptian learn of the deception and hijacking and dangle the Juntas, scrap that rusted out peace accord and invites Ahmadinejad to come over. The only question is, should we give them a year or 1.5? I guess I will see my schedule and work accordingly.
October 10th, 2011, 10:21 am
Akbar Palace said:
SNP,
Your effort to bring in other actors into the Arab Spring doesn’t wash. The violence in Egypt is purely local unless you can prove otherwise. The Egyptian care-taker government (aka The Military) is using these events to prolong their power and put off free elections.
October 10th, 2011, 10:33 am
sheila said:
TO #457. IRRITATED SAID:
You said:”Sheila #452
Can you give me an example of an Arab government that cares about the country and the people (aside from the rich Gulf countries who have more expats that citizens)?”.
Thank you Irritated for getting my point. No, there are no Arab government that cares about its country and its people. The gulf regimes just have a lot of money to throw at their problems.
October 10th, 2011, 10:38 am
zoo said:
Sheila
Thanks for your straight answer.
Do you think that it is because these government are not elected democratically or because there is an inherent flaw in the mind of the wannabe leaders due to the history of colonialism and the persistence of corrupted authoritarian regimes in the region.
October 10th, 2011, 10:58 am
Revlon said:
The Syrian Revolution 2011 الثورة السورية ضد بشار الاسد
رشا عمران: أكثر ما يحزنني في دمشق حاليا حين أكون أقضي عملا لي ويكون الموظف شابا علويا وحين يكتشف من لقبي أنني من نفس طائفته يبدأ بتسهيل الأمور لي كوني من “عضام الرقبة” وأكيد أتعرض لضغوط نفسية من المؤامرة “السنية” خصوصا وأنا أعيش بين “الغرب”! قالها لي اليوم أجذ الشباب في شركة نقل…
كيف سأُفهم هذا الشاب وغيره أنني سورية وأنه ليس أكثر قربا لي من جاري بائع الخضرة الدوماني ولامن شاعر كردي شاب تعارفنا على الفيسبوك ولا من زميلي في العمل الشاب النازح الذي لا يصافح النساء ولا من السائق الدرعاوي الشاب الذي تعرفت إليه وقت حصار درعا ولا من سالم الحلبي الثائر صديق ابنتي .!
كيف سيفهم هذا الشاب كل هذا وهو يلقن يوميا من رب عمله “شريك الفساد الأول” ومن الإعلام السوري الذي يبث كل دقيقة أن السوريين وحوش ينهشون لحم بعضهم! كم ستتغير حياة هذا الشاب حين يدرك الحقيقة
44 minutes ago
October 10th, 2011, 11:09 am
Tara said:
Husam @462
Whether there is a conspiracy or not in Egypt, the government should handle it differently. People should feel free to demonstrate. The government ought to protect them whether their concerns and issues deemed legit or not. Specifically, the government should not allow mobsters (Islamic fundamentalists in this case) to chase after the demonstrators and clash with them. Those assailants should face harsher than usual penalty because they are indeed jeopardizing the Egyptian unity. The government should also heavily punish those officers responsible for running over the demonstrators.
October 10th, 2011, 11:22 am
Revlon said:
A Christian Syrian Canadian opposition activist’s request for joining the Syrian MB party was warmly received and accepted.
المراقب العام لإخوان سوريا يرحب بانضمام مسيحي سوري إلى صفوفهم
10/10/2011.
http://www.jidar.net/node/11094
رحبت جماعة الإخوان المسلمين في سوريا بانضمام الناشط والمعارض السوري المسيحي ميخائيل سعد إلى صفوفها.
وفي ردٍ على طلب الناشط ميخائيل سعد الإنضمام لجماعة الإخوان المسلمين تلقته جدار من أمين سر قيادة جماعة الإخوان المسلمين في سورية محمد بسام يوسف قال أنه يرحب بانضمامه للجماعة باسم المراقب العام لإخوان سوريا
وقال الشريف ” باسم فضيلة المراقب العام لجماعة الإخوان المسلمين في سورية محمد رياض شقفة، أرحب بك وأكبر فيك هذه الروح الوطنية والحس العالي بالمسؤولية والشعور الراقي بالوحدة الوطنية السورية التي يتساوى فيها السوريون بالحقوق والواجبات.. معاً لبناء دولةٍ مدنيةٍ ديمقراطيةٍ عصرية، تكون فيها حقوق المواطنة مكفولة لجميع السوريين.”
وكان الناشط والمعارض السوري ميخائيل سعد قد تقدم بطلب انضمام لجماعة الإخوان المسلمين السورية على صفحته على الفيس بوك ونشرته جدار أمس وجاء فيه “نكاية ببعض اليسار السوري وبعض العلمانيين الشكليين وبعض القوميين، وقبل هذا نكاية بالسلطة السورية، اعلن انضمامي المؤقت للاخوان المسلمين رغم كل عيوبهم اذا قبلوا بي” كما قال
October 10th, 2011, 11:26 am
sheila said:
To #471. Zoo,
You said: “Do you think that it is because these government are not elected democratically or because there is an inherent flaw in the mind of the wannabe leaders due to the history of colonialism and the persistence of corrupted authoritarian regimes in the region”.
I think it is all of the above and then some. I do not think that our problems will immediately disappear once we have a democracy. Our problems need a lot more work to solve. I would like to argue that in history, there are examples of capitalist democracies, communist autocracies, socialists democracies and capitalists dictators and other forms of government, that managed to bring prosperity to their people and nations. It all boils down to good governance. It is having a government that has as its first priority the amelioration of its country and prosperity of its people. It comes out of good moral compass, solid work ethics and top notch education and unfortunately, we lack all three.
October 10th, 2011, 11:32 am
Syrian Nationalist Party said:
“………A Christian Syrian Canadian opposition activist’s request for joining the Syrian MB party was warmly received and accepted….”
Hi, my name is Eli Cohen, Canadian born and just converted to Islam this morning, this morning changed my name to Thabet. I am now a Syrian Revolutionary and would like to join the Moslem Brotherhood of Evil, can you help me get in to the inner circle of this Satanic group, so together we can screw up Syria to the max. Please help, I get to cash paychecks from the Saudi Emir, Al CIAda and Mossad. Now I can buy that dream penthouse flat looking over the blue sea in Haifa. OOooops, scratch that out, I mean over looking the holy [Edited by Alex] Kaba
October 10th, 2011, 12:00 pm
some guy no longer in damascus said:
SNP: “I mean over looking the holy KaKa Kaba”
oh my, what a great secular person you are! even seculars can be extremists. SNP is an example.
even though im a staunch secularist, i dont resort to offensive remarks that can inflame sectarian tensions. we try to make all people equal despite the religious barriers. you are a shame to every secular hero in the world!
what would your party founder say?
October 10th, 2011, 12:12 pm
ann said:
LOL SNP. That was very funny! I thought Haytham (UNCLE TOM) Khoury was the only Canadian Syrian Christian allowed to join that evil Islamist Terrorist killer gang!
October 10th, 2011, 12:16 pm
Syrian Nationalist Party said:
Kaaba a Hindu Temple?
[Note: A recent archeological find in Kuwait unearthed a gold-plated statue of the Hindu deity Ganesh. A Muslim resident of Kuwait requested historical research material that can help explain the connection between Hindu civilisation and Arabia.]
Was the Kaaba Originally a Hindu Temple?
By P.N. Oak (Historian)
Glancing through some research material recently, I was pleasantly surprised to come across a reference to a king Vikramaditya inscription found in the Kaaba in Mecca proving beyond doubt that the Arabian Peninsula formed a part of his Indian Empire.
The text of the crucial Vikramaditya inscription, found inscribed on a gold dish hung inside the Kaaba shrine in Mecca, is found recorded on page 315 of a volume known as ‘Sayar-ul-Okul’ treasured in the Makhtab-e-Sultania library in Istanbul, Turkey. Rendered in free English the inscription says:
“Fortunate are those who were born (and lived) during king Vikram’s reign. He was a noble, generous dutiful ruler, devoted to the welfare of his subjects. But at that time we Arabs, oblivious of God, were lost in sensual pleasures. Plotting and torture were rampant. The darkness of ignorance had enveloped our country. Like the lamb struggling for her life in the cruel paws of a wolf we Arabs were caught up in ignorance. The entire country was enveloped
October 10th, 2011, 12:23 pm
Tara said:
More army/ security officers killed today than civilians. Syria has already entered full blown civil war. It is so sad..
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/10/us-syria-idUSL5E7L720620111010
October 10th, 2011, 12:24 pm
Syrian Nationalist Party said:
Pagan origin of Islam:
http://wikiislam.net/wiki/The_Pagan_Origins_of_Islam
October 10th, 2011, 12:26 pm
zoo said:
Sheila #475
Where do we start?
a) Forcing an immediate “democracy” by military means and/or uprisings, hoping that after the fall of the ruling class, it will move on the right track and not divert like in Iran in a pseudo-democracy where the social peace and the vision of the country’s future is modeled by religious entity or else fumble for years like Iraq in insecurity and absence of vision.
Note than in Iran, in view of their achievement in industrial development, sciences and arts you can find “”good moral compass, solid work ethics and top notch education”.
b) Move gradually to an embryo of democracy by putting its basis ( multi-party, free elections, new constitution), work on a common vision of the country’s future while still keeping a part of the authoritarian scheme to ensure social peace. Then build institutions that would promote “good moral compass, solid work ethics and top notch education”. That is what Egypt and Tunisia are attempting to do, I guess.
Any other alternative you can think of?
October 10th, 2011, 12:33 pm
ann said:
Terrorist acts escalate in central Syria: media – 2011-10-10
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-10/10/c_131183203.htm
DAMASCUS, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) — A Syrian newspaper said Monday there is a flare-up of armed terrorist acts in the central province of Homs, adding that terrorist groups are now intensively using rocket-propelled grenades to hit army checkpoints, shops and buildings.
Al-Watan newspaper said the residents of some quarters in Homs have appealed on specialized authorities to take immediate actions to salvage their city from a “sectarian war which those terrorist groups are working to wage.”
The paper said two army officers were killed in an ambush on Sunday in Homs. Syria’s third-largest city Homs has spearheaded rallies against President Bashar al-Assad since protests erupted on March 15.
In a related development, al-Watan said Bouthayna Shaaban, the media and political adviser of Assad, has embarked on an official visit to Malaysia as part of the Syrian government’s efforts to ” head to the East” following recent U.S.and EU sanctions on the country.
October 10th, 2011, 12:34 pm
Mango said:
without comment !
October 10th, 2011, 12:42 pm
Akbar Palace said:
Where do we start?
Zoo,
How about an election? Or is that asking to much?
October 10th, 2011, 12:43 pm
ann said:
Latin American delegation arrives in Syria to express support
2011-10-09
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-10/09/c_131181164.htm
DAMASCUS, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) — A high-level delegation from the Latin America set foot on Syria late Saturday to express support for the country that has been wracked by nearly seven months of unrest it blames on foreign conspiracy, as well as to express rejection of all forms of interference in its internal affairs.
The delegation is comprised of the foreign ministers of Venezuela and Cuba, and the Bolivian media and communication minister, as well as deputy foreign ministers of Ecuador and Nicaragua.
The delegation would hold talks with Syrian President Bashar al- Assad.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro said in a statement ahead of the visit that “we will stand against all forms of interference the United States is trying to impose on Syria in the same way it did in Libya.”
Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez recently also sent a message of solidarity to President al-Assad against what he called “Yankee” aggression. Chavez saw the wave of unrest in the Arab world as Western-led destabilization.
Cuba has also showed opposition to any attempt to destabilize Syria.
October 10th, 2011, 12:53 pm
Tara said:
Zoo
Syrian waited for 11 years. Isn’t enough?
October 10th, 2011, 12:53 pm
ann said:
Malaysia Against Foreign Military Intervention In Syria – Anifah
October 10, 2011
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=619091
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 (Bernama) — Malaysia is against any foreign military intervention to end the conflict in Syria.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman in making Malaysia’s stand on Syria Monday, maintained that it was Malaysia’s policy of respecting the sovereignty of and not interfering in other countries’ affairs.
He opined that foreign military intervention in Syria was unnecessary because all concerned parties could enter into peaceful dialogue to find a solution to the political impasse and meet the aspirations of the Syrians.
Speaking to reporters after holding a closed-door meeting here with special envoy of the President of Syria to Malaysia Dr Buthaina Shaaban who explained the situation in Syria, Anifah said he had conveyed the Malaysian government’s concern over the escalating violence and loss of lives in Syria during the meeting.
Anifah said Syria was welcomed to emulate Malaysia on democracy, transformation, stability and sustainability.
“As a friendly country, Malaysia does not want to see Syria embroiled in conflict, which will be detrimental to the Syrian people,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Shaaban condemned all foreign elements which are trying to disunite the Syrian people by taking advantage of the uncertainties in the Middle Eastern country.
“We do not need foreign interference, especially from western countries, to control the situation in our country as we ourselves can control it,” she said.
October 10th, 2011, 1:12 pm
AIG said:
Zoo,
You start from freedom of speech. You allow Syrians to speak their minds. You allow the opposition newspapers and TV channels. You allow foreign journalists in. And you have a real discussion between Syrians about their future. And of course you also free people that were imprisoned just for talking their mind. This is a minimum to get anywhere.
October 10th, 2011, 1:32 pm
Akbar Palace said:
Children’s Rhymes Never Heard in Syria:
“Sticks and stones may break my bones / But words will never hurt me”
October 10th, 2011, 1:48 pm
Dale Andersen said:
Memo To: Ann
RE: “…The [Latin American] delegation [to Besho] is comprised of the foreign ministers of Venezuela and Cuba, and the Bolivian media and communication minister, as well as deputy foreign ministers of Ecuador and Nicaragua…”
Oh sweet baby Jesus, Ann, that’s every left-wing fascist pig government in South America. Tell me, Ann, when you look at yourself in the mirror, how can you not vomit? Just wondering…
October 10th, 2011, 1:53 pm
NEW REGIME NEW HOPE said:
Unreliable News sources:
SANA
Press Tv
Russia Today
Xinhua
October 10th, 2011, 2:03 pm
NEW REGIME NEW HOPE said:
Regime supporters lack credibility. They are in no position to advise or suggest strategies for change. ie ‘gradual change’ etc
October 10th, 2011, 2:07 pm
Jacob said:
Thanks for quality analyses about Syria.
Ehsani, you’re writing that Ford is meeting with opposition figures around Syria. Are you sure about this? To my knowledge are Western diplomats restricted to stay in the Damascus area these times, something that limits these kind of networking and influencing activities more difficult. To call it diplomacy depends on the viewpoint:)
October 10th, 2011, 2:24 pm
Syria no kandahar said:
The Mehshi politicain
Egyptians got your terrorist friends democracy after 30 years yesterday.
October 10th, 2011, 2:24 pm
Tara said:
Dear New regime @496
Hi. Freedom of expression? We can’t replace one dictatorship with other. Agree?
October 10th, 2011, 2:27 pm
Some guy no longer in damascus said:
There are reports the Libyan transitional council has shut down the Syrian embassy in tripoli, and has recognized the Syrian national council as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people.
Wow the SNC isn’t even a week old and they already got some recognition.
October 10th, 2011, 2:33 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
No more Shia after this Friday.
October 10th, 2011, 2:48 pm
NEW REGIME NEW HOPE said:
@498 TARA
I didnt mean it like that. I dont mean after the revolution. When pro-regime here are presenting to us a quick toppling of the regime or a gradual change it gets on the nerves. Even if they may be right. The street will decide what is best.
Regime supporters are entitled to say what they want. However coming from them such advice seems like a sick joke. Supporting such a vile regime = zero credibilty.
October 10th, 2011, 2:57 pm
Syrian Nationalist Party said:
Hell, SNP will recognize “whatever” as legitimate representative of the Syrians as long as they will:
1- Return citizens Nationalized assets from Oct of 1958
2- Pay compensation for all those years either from empty treasury
Or thru taxation of special category of Syrians who either benefited or were directly responsible, for such Nationalization.
3- Allow free political parties without Baathist styled hindereth in setting up.
4- Give rights to Syrian exiles and all immigrants equal to those unfortunate that stayed in the country or could not be lucky to leave.
5- Strengthen ties with Islamic Republic of Iran.
6- Never use the term Arabian Gulf.
7- Give SNP the defense and security portfolio
8- Follow SNP economic development plan
9- Strengthen ties with Russia and China
10- Permit establishment of Naval, Arial and Land based Russian, Iranian and Chinese security and military bases and installation within legal boundary to serve Syria’s national Interests.
11- Accept SNP peace terms, or war plans for the Golan whichever is necessary to retrieve it.
12- Accept SNP peace terms or war plans for the Iskenderun, whichever is necessary to repatriate it.
13- Ban rag-heads from entering the country and allow for Californians to live and work, set shops and businesses.
If they agree to the above, which are the least terms acceptable will RECOGNIZE MICKEY MOUSE AS THE LIGITIMATE REPRESENTATIVE OF SYRIANS.
October 10th, 2011, 3:00 pm
SANDRO LOEWE said:
Dear President,
That is enough about this game. Please go to your private paradise with your family and disappear from public life. You deserve to rest after your efforts through 11 years. This is not the job you wanted to do, so please be free to leave politics and your unchoiced responsabilities.
October 10th, 2011, 3:01 pm
uzair8 said:
Previously I posted Shaykh Yaqoubi’s comment about supporting the revolution despite knowing the situation may get worse (ie eventual appearance of the Sufyani).
A questioner asked the Shaykh: “What course of action do you suggest each individual take in these difficult times, sidi?”
The Shaykh replied: “We live our life do our work as usual; practice jihad when it applies and enjoin good and forbid evil; knowing the above will help us having a vision and not being surprised when things get worse; while we always pray for the best.”
Also the on the Shaykh’s facebook page people were asked whether the Shaykh should get more involved in politics and even form an Islamic party or continue teaching the Sacred Knowledge.
52 people have replied so far. Some interesting views.
http://www.facebook.com/shaykhabulhuda
October 10th, 2011, 3:16 pm
zoo said:
Turkey’s ‘Mission Impossible’
Sunday, October 9, 2011
NURAY MERT
U.S. President Barack Obama thanked Turkey for its support in Afghanistan and Libya when he met Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in his last visit to the United States. Then, it seems that Obama focused on the “Syrian problem” in his meeting with the Turkish prime minister.
The pressures on Turkey to take a more active role in Syrian affairs started much earlier. Turkey has been accused of failing to take a strong stand against Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian regime. Then, even some sort of military intervention from Turkey became a topic of consideration during the early summer. Nevertheless, it was very difficult for Turkey to take a firm position against the Syrian regime and to keep balanced relations with Iran. It still is!
Iran is well aware that Turkey is a Western ally and a NATO member and at the end of the day, the interests of the two countries will eventually come to a bitter end. Yet, Iranians behaved as if balanced relations with Turkey were always sustainable and that Turkey could play a role in nuclear talks. Moreover, they encouraged Turkey to adopt an intermediary role but it turned out to be a major failure. The relations got even more strained when Turkey decided to denounce the Syrian regime and support the Syrian opposition openly while agreeing to join NATO’s missile program. Nevertheless, again they chose to give only a low-profile rhetorical reaction rather than directly confront Turkey.
Iran is playing the game very cleverly and carefully by avoiding any confrontation with Turkey because Iranians know that Turkey desperately needs a pretext to challenge Iran and to feel justified in its Syrian policy. Mostly for that reason, Iran started a military operation against Kurdish guerilla forces in northern Iraq as a kind of “preemptive strike.” Even so, Turkey tried to invent theories and stories of a “possible alliance between Iran, Syria and the PKK.” I do not think that the Iranians will fall in to this trap and support “any enemies” of Turkey at that moment. On the contrary, Iranians are keeping firm in an attempt not to give any excuse to Turkey to justify any future confrontation. Under those circumstances Turkey is heading into a very difficult position.
Some ex-Islamist writers like Ali Bulaç (a columnist at daily Zaman) have already started to warn the government “not to fall into the trap of Western imperialists who are trying to start a war and confrontation among Muslims.” One the one hand, Turkey is expected by the Western world to play a more active role in Syria which will lead to indirect confrontation with Iran. On the other hand, it is not in the interest of Turkey to end its balanced policy. It may be inevitable at some point but then the government will need a pretext to end good relations, but the Iranians are very cautious at not providing an excuse to change that policy.
That is why “putting pressure on Turkey to play a more active role in the interests of Syrian regime change” is tantamount to giving Turkey a “mission impossible.” This is a very big challenge for Turkish foreign policy and it may cost Turkey dearly.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=turkey8217s-8216mission-impossible8217-2011-10-09
October 10th, 2011, 3:23 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
@ SNP :
Son of a bitch, Arabian Gulf it will be forever. Go wank Karbala troll. What issues does SNP have with Arabian Gulf ? Saddam should have gassed y’all to death Majoosis.
Gamal Abdel Nasser did the Mid East a good turn by expelling rats like your lot.
And by the way, why should we even be bothered to gain SNP’s recognition ? What do you have eh , that we wil gove defence portfolio to you Majoosis ? We would rather give it to Abu Mazen than you lol. Why the hell do we even need SNP when you guys cldn’t have your way even with Assad ? You guys got only 2 seats in Lebanon, 13 of your boys were lynched in Halba by Khaled Daher’s boys, what could you do ? You don’t have ANY cards to play, just shut up and wait for another Halba massacre.
October 10th, 2011, 3:43 pm
Amir in Tel Aviv said:
Tara,
I’m cooking now mahshi cabbage leaves, stuffed with Frike and rice. I’m using your spicing, 20 garlic cloves (wow it’s a lot of garlic. never used so much garlic in one dish), and lemon juice from 4 lemons + some zest. In the stuffing I put some dill, fresh palm fruit and Baharat spice. It’s cooking now and the home smells goooood !!!
.
October 10th, 2011, 3:48 pm
Syrian Nationalist Party said:
Moderator, please remove the foul language that fictisious Mossad paid blogger calling ITSELF TLASS said in # 506, you sure edited SNP language several times.
October 10th, 2011, 3:49 pm
Khalid Tlass said:
Your God Antun Saadeh was executed like a caged dog, I ROFL everytime I think of his lame “coup d’etat” in 1949. That little kitten Mehaudli blew herself up only to kill 2 demoralised Israeli conscripts.
And btw, your man Hardaan looks Arab. Suck it up.
October 10th, 2011, 4:08 pm